Ohio State aims to wrap up Meyer investigation in 2 weeks

Ohio State is using an outside law firm to investigate football coach Urban Meyer and expects to have the process wrapped up within two weeks, the university said Sunday night.

The school is looking into what Meyer knew and what he did about domestic abuse accusations against former assistant Zach Smith.

In a Twitter statement issued Friday, Meyer said he followed proper protocol when informed of a 2015 abuse allegation against Smith. He initially told reporters at Big Ten Media Days on July 25 that he didn’t know anything about abuse allegations made by Courtney Smith in October 2015.

Mary Jo White of the national law firm Debevoise & Plimpton will head up the investigation, according to the university.

White is a former federal prosecutor and the former chairwoman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange.

Once the investigation is complete, it will be Ohio State President Michael Drake and the university trustees who will make decisions based off the results.

Meyer was placed on paid leave last week. Smith was fired July 24 in the wake of his ex-wife filing a restraining order against him.

Smith, who denies any domestic abuse accusations, has not been criminally charged or convicted. The couple divorced in 2016.