![In this Sept. 17, 2016, file photo, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, right, and assistant coach Zach Smith, left, gesture from the sideline during the team's NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. [Sue Ogrocki / AP]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a28ced6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2197x1636+0+0/resize/840x626!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2021%2F05%2FUrban%20Meyer%20AP19214824406655.jpg)
The Ohio State University has released copies of texts and emails related to the 2018 investigation into then-head football coach Urban Meyer’s handling of domestic violence allegations against an assistant coach.
Zach Smith was fired from his position as the team’s wide receivers coach in July 2018 after a violating a protection order filed by his ex-wife, bringing to light numerous incidents of alleged domestic violence. He pleaded guilty to reduced charges in October 2018.
The text message records are highly redacted and cover conversations about potential recruits as well as communication strategy in the wake of Smith’s firing. The school also released nearly 2,000 pages of Meyer’s emails relevant to the investigation, which costthe university $1 million.
The release comes just over a year after Meyer was first placed on administrative leave. A university investigation found Meyer and Athletic Director Gene Smith mishandled the response to allegations against Smith. Both were suspended for the beginning of last year’s football season.
Meyer announced his retirement from the team in December and has since taken up a post in the Athletic Department.
Search the records for yourself here.
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