Ex-Florida AD mum on Smith’s ’09 arrest

GAINESVILLE, FLA. » Former Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley is declining to say what, if anything, coach Urban Meyer told him about Zach Smith’s domestic violence arrest in 2009.

Meyer was placed on paid leave last week by Ohio State amid questions about what he knew and did about accusations of abuse made against Smith. The former Buckeyes assistant coach was fired July 24 after his ex-wife sought a restraining order against him. The couple divorced in 2016.

The Associated Press asked the Gators to provide details regarding how Meyer and his bosses handled Smith’s arrest nearly a decade ago, but Foley declined comment Friday through a university spokesman. Foley is currently Florida’s emeritus AD.

Meyer released a statement last week saying he has “always followed proper reporting protocols and procedures when I have learned of an incident involving a student-athlete, coach or member of our staff by elevating the issues to the proper channels.” It raised questions about what Florida officials, specifically Foley, knew and how they reacted to Smith’s arrest on June 21, 2009.

Boston College and Marshall previously commented about what they knew before hiring Smith. Florida, though, is choosing to remain quiet.

Smith was arrested in 2009 on a charge of aggravated battery on a pregnant woman, his wife. He was graduate assistant on Meyer’s staff at the time.