Ohio State coach Urban Meyer retires, led Florida to two national championships

By Adam Silverstein
December 4, 2018
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer retires, led Florida to two national championships
Football

Image Credit: UAA Communications

Former Florida Gators head football coach Urban Meyer, a two-time national champion with the Gators who led Florida to its strongest period of success in program history, will announce his retirement on Tuesday after holding the same position with the Ohio State Buckeyes since 2012.

Meyer led the Gators to national championships in 2006 and 2008 and went 13-1 three times at UF (also in 2009). He also recruited the best player in the history of the program as quarterback Tim Tebow was on the team for both of those titles and became the thrid player in Gators history to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007. Overall, Meyer went 65-15 overall at Florida and 36-12 in SEC play. His teams won five off the six bowl games in which they competed with three BCS bowl game victories. The Gators finished in the top 15 of the AP Top 25 in his first four seasons.

Meyer’s career at Florida ended abruptly as he first decided to retire following the 2009 season only to change his mind and announce he would remain with the Gators. That led to Florida’s worst season under Meyer, a 8-5 (4-4 SEC) mark in 2010. Meyer then retired again citing health issues and decided to move into a broadcasting career with ESPN.

Just one year later, claiming improved health and better control of his personal affairs, Meyer reemerged at Ohio State when Jim Tressel was fired by the Buckeyes.

In addition to the two BCS National Championships and victories in three total BCS bowl appearances, Meyer led Florida to two SEC championships in three appearances and — at one point — a school-record 22-game winning streak. His career winning percentage is the best in program history, and while at Florida, he became the first coach in FBS history with consecutive 13-win seasons. He was also the first to post three 13-win seasons in a four-year span and win two BCS titles.

Since taking over Ohio State, Meyer has gone 82-9 (54-4) with a national championship in 2014, an undefeated season in 2012 and three more conference titles. He will be succeed by his current offensive coordinator, Ryan Day.

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