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Recent report details longtime allegations of domestic violence by Zach Smith
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A report recently obtained by the Columbus Dispatch details a longtime history of domestic abuse by former Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith.
The report details multiple instances of physical and verbal abuse by Zach Smith toward ex-wife Courtney Smith that “long made her fear for her life.” According to a report in July from Stadium’s Brett McMurphy, Zach Smith was arrested on domestic violence charges in 2009 and 2015.
Zach Smith was fired by head coach Urban Meyer on July 23, 2018.
Per the Columbus Dispatch, Courtney Smith detailed many instances in which she was verbally and physically abused by her then-husband. Some of the allegations include:
Smith told Officer Ben Boruchowitz that she was making the report on Oct. 26, 2015, because Zach Smith, then an Ohio State assistant coach, had come to her Powell condominium the night before and started verbally abusing her, then pushed her into a wall and took their young son with him against her objections.
“The victim states that last year, the suspect choked her until she could not breathe,” the narrative report said. “The victim states that the suspect tells her all the time that he will kill her.”
The one-page narrative details several other previous incidents, including in October 2014 when she claimed Zach Smith “cut her hand open with a tin can causing significant bleeding.” She showed Officer Ben Boruchowitz photographs she said were from the attack. In January 2015, she alleged that he “threw her into a wooden stair causing significant bruising and swelling.” Boruchowitz was again shown photographs she said were from the incident, according to the report.
Courtney Smith also claims that, after the incident in October 2015, Ohio State sent a lawyer to her home to convince her to drop the charges because it would “embarrass” the university.
According to the Dispatch, Ohio State plans to investigate that allegation.
In response, Zach Smith’s attorney, Brad Koffel, said that his client complied with police and answered every question he was asked.
“Everyone can draw their own conclusion why charges weren’t filed,” Koffel said. “At some point in time, the exculpatory evidence outweighed the incriminating allegations.”
Zach Smith has maintained his innocence through the reports and his firing from Ohio State. On Wednesday, the ex-assistant coach went on a fierce Twitter rampage, calling out McMurphy, Paul Finebaum and ESPN — among others — for their “one-sided” coverage of the situation.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB