The Ohio Bobcats went 8-4 in their first season under coach Brian Smith , but the school made a surprising announcement on Monday, placing Smith on leave for an "undetermined period of time" and naming defensive coordinator John Hauser as interim coach.

The school provided no details as to why Smith was put on leave, but the expectation for now is that Hauser will coach the Bobcats in their bowl game and run the program until Smith's mysterious absence is resolved. Smith was put on leave effective Dec. 1.

Smith was named the interim coach last year when Tim Albin left to take the Charlotte job. Albin led Ohio to its first Mid-American Conference title since 1968 but departed prior to the Cure Bowl. Smith then was promoted to full-time head coach. Before arriving at Ohio in 2022,

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