Ohio State staffer on leave amid misconduct investigation, report reveals
Ohio State defensive quality control assistant Joe Lyberger was away from the team during the completion of the Buckeyes’ national championship run. Reports by The Columbus Dispatch and other outlets reveal that Lyberger has been on leave since Dec. 27 amid an investigation by the Office of Institutional Equity, which handles complaints of harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct.
Documents obtained through record requests by The Dispatch did not detail the nature of the allegations against Lyberger. Joey Kaufman writes that the Dec. 27 date was stated in a letter to Lyberger from human resources.
“My client and I take any allegation of wrongdoing very seriously,” Sam Shamansky, an attorney representing Lyberger, said in a statement to The Dispatch. “We respect the process whereby those who are accused have the opportunity to defend themselves, and we look forward to the opportunity.”
Lyberger works with Buckeye linebackers. Quality control coaches, like analysts, were long labeled “off-field” positions as opposed to the “on-field” role of being a position coach or coordinator. Though quality control coaches are not off-campus recruiters like position coaches, the NCAA has relaxed the rules restricting on-field instruction for non-position coaches.
Lyberger went on leave before Ohio State faced Oregon in the Rose Bowl, its second of 4 College Football Playoff games. OSU then went on to face Texas in the semifinals and Notre Dame in the CFP National Championship.