COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State on Thursday announced that the university's board of trustees has formed an independent working group to aid in the investigation of football coach Urban Meyer.

The group includes current trustees Alex Fischer, Janet Porter and Alex Shumate. It also includes former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, former acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Craig Morford and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Carter Stewart.

"The special working group will direct the work of the investigative team and be available to provide consultation and advice, and assist with communication to the full board on the matter," the university said in a statement.

Ohio State on Wednesday announced an investigation into allegations that Meyer knew about alleged domestic violence committed by former receivers coach Zach Smith in 2015. Smith was fired on July 23. At Big Ten media days last week, Meyer publicly denied any knowledge of the incident.

In two separate interviews on Wednesday, Courtney Smith, the ex-wife and alleged victim of Zach Smith, said that Meyer's wife, Shelley, knew of the abuse and that she believed Urban Meyer knew as well.

Urban Meyer was placed on paid administrative leave while the university investigates. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ryan Day will serve as acting head football coach in the interim. The Buckeyes open 2018 fall camp on Friday.