Top coaches not immune to scandal
Until this week, Ohio State’s Urban Meyer was among the most valuable coaches in college football.
He has shepherded Heisman Trophy winners and top draft picks, like Tim Tebow and Alex Smith, and has won relentlessly, guiding his teams at Florida and then Ohio State to three national championships since 2006. In his six seasons in Columbus, Meyer’s Buckeyes have gone 73-8, giving him a higher winning percentage than Nick Sabanhas at Alabama.
Then, in a matter of hours Wednesday, he became arguably the most radioactive coach in the game. Ohio State placed Meyer, 54, on paid administrative leave while it investigates whether he knew about domestic violence allegations against a longtime assistant. The move signaled that Meyer’s immaculate onfield performance — and the $7.6 million salary he is slated to receive this year after signing an extension — may not beenough to save his job.
That Meyer’s job hangs in the balance despite superlative coaching and no known risk of NCAA sanctions is the latest example of an unmistakable shift in big-time college sports.
In earlier years, teams stomached just about anything from the head coach so long as he kept the victories coming. Losing was the only sin.Not anymore.
“Twenty years ago, there would not have been the sensitivities that there are today,” said Bill Carr, a former Florida athletic director who advises on coaching searches. “In my opinion, that has dramatically changed.”
Richard Southall, a professor of sport management at the University of South Carolina who specializes in sports ethics, sped up the timeline: “I think we are at a different point than we were five years ago,”he said.
Meyer’s swift downfall began when independent journalist Brett McMurphy reported Wednesday morning on his Facebook page that Meyer’s wife knew of a 2015 incident in which Meyer’s longtime assistant Zach Smith was accused of shoving and choking his ex-wife, Courtney Smith. The article cited text messages that spoke of Meyer’s having confronted Zach Smith about it. Last week, Meyer, who fired Smith after a recent trespassing charge and protection order were reported, denied knowingabout it.
Ina statement Wednesday, Ohio State said, “We are focusedon supporting our players and on getting to the truth as expeditiously as possible.” Ohio State’s investigation could clear Meyer, allowing him to return to the sidelines. Given the current climate, thatmay prove problematic.
Winning is still valued in college sports — astronomical salaries indicate it is valued more than ever. As increased revenue has leveled the playing field for less-heraldedcolleges, eroding the advantages blue-blood programs used to enjoy, the importance of having an elite coachhas grown.
But times are changing. Art Briles almost singlehandedly made Baylor’s football program relevant, but after an investigation revealed a culture of coddling players accused of and charged with sexual assault, he was dismissedin May 2016.
Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino withstood personal and NCAA scandals at Louisville but was forced out after last year’s college basketball recruiting indictments.
Hugh Freeze led Mississippi to its second 10-win season since 1971, but phone records showing he had called an escort service were enough to end his tenure in Oxfordlast year.
If, in the past, winning was the only thing that mattered, these days it increasingly seems to resemble the easy part — particularly if a coach hasa good track record.
“A guy like Urban Meyer, Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino, you’re never going to fire them because they have a bad year, or two or three bad years,” said Bob Lattinville, an agent with Spencer Fane. “They have tenure — unless something like this happens.”
Meyer’sproblems come on the heels of other scandals at Ohio State, including a lawsuit alleging that in 2014 an assistant coach had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 16-year-old diver who said there was no adequate way for her to report it, and the university’s announcement last month that an investigation had uncovered more than 100 former students who say Richard Strauss, a former team doctor,sexually abused them.
Even before the #MeToo movement began last fall there was a particular allergy in college sports, Southall said, to misconduct that is sexual or includes violence against women. The contract extension Meyer signed this year included language about failing to report violations of the university’s sexual misconduct policy to the Title IX office.
“A guy like Urban Meyer, Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino, you’re never going to fire them because they have a bad year ... They have tenure — unless something like this happens.” Bob Lattinville