BREAKING NEWS: Florida Gators head football coach Urban Meyer retires

By Adam Silverstein
December 8, 2010

Florida Gators head football coach Urban Meyer announced his retirement from college football on Wednesday and a press conference will be held by the University of Florida including athletic director Jeremy Foley and school president Bernie Machen at 6 p.m.

“I have been a Division I football coach for the last 25 years and, during that time, my primary focus has been helping my teams win titles,” Meyer said in an official statement released by the school. “I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and I am a fierce competitor to my core. At this time in my life, however, I appreciate the sacrifices my 24/7 profession has demanded of me, and I know it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field. The decision to step down was a difficult one.

“But after spending more than two decades motivating and celebrating the young men I’ve been so proud to coach, I relish the opportunity to cheer for my three terrific kids as they compete in their own respective sports. I know how fortunate I am to be in a position to make this choice and to have a family that is as loving and supportive as my amazing wife and children have always been.”

Meyer, who will coach his final game with the Gators in the 2011 Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2011, reportedly informed Foley of his decision over the weekend. The duo finalized the resignation on Tuesday.

“I am enormously grateful to the University of Florida and our tremendous fans for giving me the incredible opportunity to lead the football program,’’ Meyer said. “The support provided by school president Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley has been an invaluable part of all that we have been able to accomplish over the last six years I have exceptional regard for my coaching staff who have always shared my passionate commitment to winning and to guiding the development of the young men of Florida football.

“Most important, I will be forever grateful to the student-athletes I have had the honor to coach and from whom I have learned so much. I will profoundly miss coming to campus every day to coach this team, but I will always be a Gator at heart, and I am confident that the program will continue to reflect the highest ideals of the University of Florida and collegiate sports.”

He is coming off his least productive year at Florida, finishing the regular season with a 7-5 (4-4 SEC) record even though the Gators brought in arguably the nation’s top recruiting class in the offseason.

Meyer leaves Florida having complied a 64-15 (36-12 SEC) record, two BCS National Championships, three BCS bowl game appearances, two SEC Championships in three appearances, and – at one point – a school-record 22-game winning streak. His .810 winning percentage is the best in UF history, he became the first coach in FBS history to post consecutive 13-win seasons, and he is the only coach to post three 13-win seasons in a four-year span.

Named “Coach of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News, Meyer is the first coach ever to win two BCS National Championships and is one of five coaches to win a pair of national titles in his first four years at a school.

Meyer coached a Heisman Trophy winner in Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, a No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft in QB Alex Smith (at Utah) and has had 26 Gators selected to the NFL Draft since taking over the team. Seven Florida players have been first-round picks under Meyer including a school-record-tying three in 2010.

Foley also shared his early thoughts on Meyer’s retirement.

“When I first came to Florida in 1976, all anybody wanted to do here was win one Southeastern Conference championship,’’ Foley said. “As good of a coach as he is, he’s a better person. He’s given Gator fans and this program memories of a lifetime. When you win 22 games in a row and have back-to-back 13-win seasons, two national championships, it’s hard to quantify.

“People just need to understand what he did. Winning two national championships is really hard. He fell in love with the Florida Gators, he loves this place, and he’ll always be a part of our history. It was our privilege to have him as our football coach.’’

After falling to Florida State on Nov. 27, Meyer gave no indication that he would be leaving the program anytime soon.

“I can assure you we are going to rebuild this thing and build it up the right way and do it right. Obviously we are down a little bit. I didn’t believe we would be that far down – but we are,” he said. “How do you build up a program? I’ve done it a few times. You build it up with tough players, tough coaches, and you got to play better. You have to have a plan to win. […] With that said, we’re going to be rebuild it right though, not wrong. We’re going to rebuild it right.”

Asked on Nov. 18 to clarify his status for next year, Meyer assured the media that he would be returning to the sidelines for the 2011 season. “Oh yeah. One hundred percent. Absolutely,” he said.

OGGOA will continue updating this story. Stay tuned.

Photo Credit: Stephen Morton/Associated Press

70 Comments

  1. Aligator says:

    Dan Mullen in the House!

  2. Denver Gator says:

    I cannot say I am surprised about this. Thanks for everything Coach Meyer, it has been an absolutely amazing ride!

  3. Luke says:

    WOW!! If we get stuck with Addazio, I think I’ll be forced to be a FSU fan. Anyone think he’ll be the next Broncos coach?

  4. zurbo says:

    BYE BYE addazio!!!!!

  5. Mr2Bits says:

    Can’t really say I’m not too surprised. You could see it in his eyes this year. Just really looked overly medicated and not into it mentally. I appreciate everything he has brought to the program and wish him the best in his life’s endeavorers.

    Coaches likely on the radar in no order:
    Mike Leach
    Chris Peterson
    Stoops
    Mullen
    Gruden
    McDaniels

  6. Gatorbuc15 says:

    Any ideas of who might replace him?

  7. Aligator says:

    Gus Mahlzohn!!

  8. SaraGator says:

    Not surprised.

  9. sjkoepp says:

    Dang. This sucks. Can’t be mad at the guy though. With a family who needs him and health problems he has legitimate reasons to go. He gave the gator nation a legacy that will go down in history. I kind of expected it though. Can get get Dan Mullen!?!?!?

  10. GatorsFanLA says:

    Unbelievable!

  11. decagator says:

    Whatever happend to “We’re gonna fix this thing” and “We’re going to recruit our butts off”?

  12. bummer!…..but we need to go after a high profile guy……let’s get gruden, stoops or mullen……i like mcdaniels but his record sucks…..stoops would be a real long shot and i doubt he wants to leave OK…..

  13. dlatham21 says:

    i cant say that i am sad to see this happen. thank you coach meyer for the two titles and great years! all the attention is now on you foley! please get a big name in and get him in very soon! we need this for recruiting!!!

  14. TonyM1449 says:

    That’s crazy!! Timing is everything … wondering what this does for recruiting???!

  15. Tim says:

    Well…I’ll say this. Some of the whiney babies on this site finally got their wish. Hope it was worth booing the team, and calling for people to be fired. Seems like you guys ran another great coach out of town. Who can we run off next?

    The national media is going to have a field day.

    I appreciate his time here and everything he’s done for the program. I wish he could have ended things on a better note. Just a tough time to be a Gator Football Fan.

  16. Joe says:

    Foley needs to tell Meyer to clear out his desk, turn in his keys and cell phone and hit the bricks. Once an employee resigns, he needs to go. Meyer hanging around for the next month would not be good for the program.

  17. John S says:

    I hope Jeremy has a contingency program in place. He had a year. I am surprised, he’ll be coaching somewhere else in 2 to 3 years, there’s no way he can just walk away from something like this. You can’t be this successful at something and not love it at some level.

    At least we have the athletes, I wonder if Mullen walks right in. It wouldn’t hurt that he’s gotten experience in Mississippi and Bama recruiting, we almost never pull from there. I wouldn’t touch Leach with a ten foot pole. Chip Kelly’s a little rough too. Peterson could be great, he still has his staff. Oklahoma’s staff has already been picked apart, so I don’t know how great Stoops would be.

  18. DukeOfDway says:

    He will be sorely missed. Thank you Coach Meyer for all you’ve done. And yes, DanMullen4UF!!

  19. Jesse C says:

    Thanks Urban for the success and memories. Enjoy your new life and please remember to take all those assistant coaches with you. We’d like a clean slate. Can we get TCU’s coach or Bama’s DC?

  20. David says:

    Whatever we save on Meyer’s contact needs to be put towards surrounding this next coach with great coordinators. If we get a coach quickly our recruiting shouldnt take much of a hit.

  21. Liveoak87 says:

    Thanks coach for a lot of great memories. IMHO don’t eant Mullen or stoops. Kinda like leach for it. Can’t see gruden coming. And hell no to addazio. Lets not rush anything. Find a GOOD coach

  22. TonyM1449 says:

    Thanks coach Meyer! It’s been a fun ride! I wish you much success in the future! Gator Nation will be forever indebted to you! Go Gators!!

  23. Tim says:

    ” dlatham21 says:
    December 8, 2010 at 2:50 pm
    i cant say that i am sad to see this happen. ”

    Um….dude, is 21 your age? Because you clearly have NOOOOOOO idea what you’re talking about. You’re not sad to see a guy that went 16-2 against your rivals and won 2 national titles in 6 years leave? Can’t wait to hear your expectations for the next coach to come in here. This ought to be good. Please tell us.

  24. Mr2Bits says:

    @Tim : Not sure who you are referring to as very few people wanted him gone and the booing was towards Addazzio, Urbes isn’t a moron as he knew that. Also, you sound surprised here. You could see it in his eyes that he had no fight left in him this year, he just rolled with the punches and seemed to have a care-free attitude.

    You know who is to blame, it’s that damn on again off again Brett Favre.

  25. Drew 4 Orange & Blue says:

    Tim…Urban’s skin is not that thin…I love Urban and he will always be on of the greatest coaches ever at UF despite how short the span…..but it was clear the coaching this year was awful…..the blaming the talent excuse is absurd…this team probably had better talent than every team it played except maybe a couple like Bama & LSU you could argue…at least he is going it now to give the next coach time to get in a good class

  26. g8ter27 says:

    Nobody ran Meyer out of here. The guy almost did this last year and had another year to think about it and finally made the decision. I do have to wonder like decagator said about his “we are gonna fix this thing” comments last week but overall this is not a shock. And we don’t want Gruden so that he can stay 2 years and bolf for the NFL again, Mullen would be a great pick at thi spoint bc he has proven he can win with very little,

  27. Oscar says:

    @Tim,

    The majority of people had an issue with Addazio and his performance as an offensive coordinator, not with Meyer. So please, don’t come here directing blame in the wrong direction.

    At this point in his life, Meyer has other concerns that are more important than football. That’s all there is to it. He did a great job at Florida while he was here, but the Gators have been here before and I have every confidence that they will rebound.

  28. zurbo says:

    If you guys think foley hasnt known about this for a while you are sorely misktaken

  29. GATORNATIONSPRESIDENT says:

    Thanks for everything Urban Meyer, you were an incredible coach and a young prodigy. Still the best head coach in college football in my opinion. No matter if you go to Denver or stay retired, good luck and God Bless in whatever you do. Thanks for the magical 5 years you brought to Florida! GO GATORS

  30. GATORNATIONSPRESIDENT says:

    Now, the question is, who’s next? It HAS to be Dan Mullen. He’s the next great college football coach

  31. Joe says:

    So Spurrier lasted longer at SC than Meyer did at UF. OH MY

  32. npgator says:

    I hate to see Coach Meyer leave – he has been a great coach and face of UF Football for the past 6 years. I think Mullen should get the nod if he is interested.

  33. DCgator says:

    Man, that sucks, but I don’t know why I’m surprised. His heart really didn’t seem to be in it this season. I’m happy for Meyer and his family and I hope he finds some personal fulfillment whatever he does. I have no doubt Meyer will be coaching again within 5 years, and I hope he comes back to Florida when he does.

    Mullen’s probably legit, but I don’t think he’s ready for big time yet. Anyone think Mike Shanahan is ready to get out of black hole of a franchise yet?

  34. Gatorbuc15 says:

    Yeah um Tim, we were aiming our missiles at Addazio buddy, not Meyer. And I seriously doubt that either him our Meyer would come here (or any other place for that matter) and actually care about what we have to say. We don’t carry that much sway.

  35. Drew 4 Orange & Blue says:

    And best wishes to Urban and his family…he is actually making the best decision from a father and husband…the time these guys have to work is just crazy

  36. OldflyerG8r says:

    Tim why don’t you stfu? Addazzio and Brantley have taken the crap. Urban has had a free ride.

    I don’t know what was going on, and will probably never know. Neither will you. But, I do know that Urban has had all the support anyone could wish for over the past year.

  37. GATORNATIONSPRESIDENT says:

    I’m not as worried about the next Gators head coach as others, because I think Foley will make a great hire and I have faith that he’ll deliver someone good—Mullen, Stoops, Chris Peterson, Gruden, etc.

    What I AM worried about is Jeff Driskell and Mike Blakely, and if they’ll stay commited to Florida after all this goes down. I was just reading that article Adam posted on here about both of them and Waisome confirming their commitments to UF. Wonder how they feel now? We CAN’T lose out on Driskell! He has a Heisman trophy waiting for him in the future…

  38. Fred says:

    Phil Fulmer is looking for a job

  39. Aligator says:

    I think that foley has to have known about this for a few days and has been working on a plan. i think that mullens or Mahlzon have to be the front runners right now. Leach is too risky, Maybe Peterson. I do not think that a pro coach would be a good fit. so yes, addozio will not be our coordinator!

    Thank you coach Meyer for all you have done!!

  40. just heard on espn that petrino is also another possibility…..but i say lets go after mullen!……too bad spur-dawg is nearing the end…..sure going to miss meyer…….

  41. Robert says:

    Everybody is saying Dan Mullen, but I’d rather have Charlie Strong. I’m sure others will disagree, but I see him as more or a leader than Mullen.

  42. gatorzone says:

    I am sad to see Coach Meyer leave. Hopefully it is not a health issue. His statements have been so ambiguous for so long who knows. I am one that hopes we go in a different direction than Dan Mullen and move away from the Meyer era and his Utah/ND connection. We’ll enjoy the highs we had…kinda like Tebow and Percey.

    I think the program would have been better off if Meyer would have allowed himself to retire last year. He needs to remove himself from the program now and not get in its way of moving forward by continuing to control it. Hopefully Jeremy digs in!

  43. gatorzone says:

    Urban has as much chance as Addazio to get the Denver Bronco head coaching job. Are some of you on Mars?

  44. westcoastlax says:

    Shanahan is not the answer to anything and he has no interest in college anyway

    Mullen & Peterson would have to both be on anyone’s short list as well as Patterson from TCU and how about Jim Harbaugh, that guy is money and it would be a great way to shove a stick in Michigan’s eye at the same time.

  45. npgator says:

    Strong would be a good candidate too.

  46. Gatorbuc15 says:

    To me Strong or Mullen would be a good choice.

  47. Ana says:

    Thanks, Meyer, for everything you did to our great Gator Nation! Before you came along we had one National Championship and in just 6 years you manage to add a couple more… 😀 – Hope you find time to at least go to some games and just be a fan!

    Keep reading about Dan Mullen, who is a good candidate, but what about Charlie Strong? I know he doesn’t have but one year as head coach experience, but I would look into him too… He was a great DC for us and I always saw great potential in him!

  48. Scooterp says:

    I think he realized that you cannot be a 7 month coach of a championship program. The failed experiment of asking a control freak to delegate and take time off, has failed. He’s burnt out and I don’t think he’s going anywhere, atleast not next season. I wish him the best, its been a great run.

  49. Scooterp says:

    …………..Stoops and Mullen will be and should be at the top of the list

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