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The Ohio Bobcats have fired first-year coach Brian Smith for cause, making the decision Wednesday after earlier this month placing him on leave for an "undetermined period of time" and naming defensive coordinator John Hauser as interim coach. 

"The termination follows 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," the school said in a statement.

Previously, the school had provided no details as to why Smith was put on leave, but Hauser will coach the Bobcats in their bowl game against UNLV on Dec. 23 and run the program until a new hire is made.

Smith's attorney, Rex Elliott, disputes Ohio's reasoning for the dismissal.

"We vigorously dispute Ohio University's grounds for the termination for cause of Coach Brian Smith," Elliott said in a statement provided to CBS Sports' Richard Johnson. "He is shocked and dismayed by this turn of events, and we plan to fight this wrongful termination to protect his good name. Coach Smith is an ethical man who has done an exemplary job for the University. He wants nothing but the best for the players, coaches, and the entire Bobcat community."

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, Smith was the offensive coordinator at Hawaii, his alma mater, and Washington State. 

Hauser has spent most of his career coaching in the MAC, with time at Northern Illinois and Miami (OH) before joining the Bobcats' staff in 2022. He's risen from safeties coach to defensive coordinator and associate head coach, and now gets a crack at the interim head coaching position.