Ohio University football coach Brian Smith was fired after disclosing he had an affair with an undergraduate student, The Columbus Dispatch reported Thursday.

Smith, originally put on leave Dec. 1, was terminated from his post for cause, with the institution stating Wednesday the decision followed “an administrative review of allegations that Smith violated the terms of his employment agreement by engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the University.”

University president Lori Stewart Gonzalez issued a letter to Smith that was dated Dec. 12 — less than a week before his firing — that alleged the first-year head football coach “carried on the relationship with the student on campus at the Ohio University Inn,” The Dispatch reported.

She also stated in the letter that Smith “smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared intoxicated” when taking part in a public appearance, per the report.

Smith’s attorney, Rex Elliott, said in a statement Wednesday to The Athletic they “vigorously dispute Ohio University’s grounds for the termination for cause.”

News from The Dispatch follows a recent report from The Athletic, which stated the coach met with administrators over an allegation he was in violation of “a university and contractual policy related to ‘alcohol and other drugs.”

Suzanne Durst, the director of employee experience at Ohio University, expanded on a meeting with Smith in a Nov. 24 letter, a gathering where the coach “acknowledged storing alcohol in his office desk drawer and that he had consumed alcohol in his office after normal business hours,” according to the note in Smith’s personnel file obtained by The Athletic.

Additionally, Smith had toasted “on occasion” with some assistants, “all over the age of 21,” postgame “for a single drink of bourbon,” the outlet reported.

Staffers cannot “use, possess, manufacture or distribute drugs and/alcohol, or be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, while in the workplace or in university vehicles and equipment and while on duty,” as indicated in Ohio University employee policy 41.133.

Smith stressed that alcohol did not impact his professional abilities and “that neither he nor others were under the influence during these instances,” per The Athletic.

In the wake of the meeting with administrators, including the university’s athletic director, Slade Larscheid, Smith received a letter on Nov. 25 stating: “Future violations of University Policy 41.133 or other University policies, may result in further disciplinary action, up to and including termination of your employment. You are expected to fully comply with all university policies and maintain professional conduct at all times.”

Smith was put on leave days later “for an undetermined period of time.” John Hauser, the team’s associate head coach and defensive coordinator, was elevated to interim head coach.

The Athletic noted, “There were no other documents in the personnel file between the Nov. 25 reprimand letter and the Dec. 1 letter for administrative leave.”

Smith led the Bobcats to an 8-4 record this season.

Hauser will coach the team in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl next Tuesday against UNLV.