BREAKING NEWS: Head coach Urban Meyer stepping down amid health concerns

By Adam Silverstein
December 26, 2009

University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley announced Saturday afternoon that Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer will be stepping down after coaching the team in the 2010 Sugar Bowl against the Cincinnati Bearcats. Meyer, 45, who was hospitalized with chest pains after the 2009 SEC Championship, has had concerns about his health for years. A school source has told ESPN that “Meyer has been to the hospital at least twice since suffering chest pains after the SEC title game” and that “the heart problems are stress related, not congenital.” Numerous rumors state Meyer may have had a heart attack.

In 1998, while he was an assistant with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Meyer experienced head pains that led doctors to discover a non-life-threatening arachnoid cyst on his brain. Though it did not put him in immediate danger, the cyst could flare up because of stress – something that happened while he was head coach of the Utah Utes. If stress is the key component at work with Meyer’s health problems, his decision to retire becomes even more clear.

“I have given my heart and soul to coaching college football and mentoring young men for the last 24-plus years and I have dedicated most of my waking moments the last five years to the Gator football program,” Meyer said in statement released to the press. “I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family. After consulting with my family, [university president] Dr. [Bernie] Machen, Jeremy Foley and my doctors, I believe it is in my best interest to step aside and focus on my health and family.

“I’m proud to be a part of the Gainesville community and the Gator Nation and I plan to remain in Gainesville and involved with the University of Florida. I’m very appreciative for the opportunity I’ve had to be a part of a tremendous institution – from Dr. Machen to Jeremy Foley and the entire administrative staff at UF. I’m also very thankful for the chance to work with some of the best assistants in college football and coach some of the best college football players and watch them grow both on and off the field as people. I will cherish the relationships with them the most.”

According to Pete Thamel of the New York Times, Meyer suffered severe chest pains while sleeping after the Alabama game. He was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, “underwent more than nine hours of testing” and was scared for his life after losing consciousness. Though he has “suffered from severe chest pains the past two years,” these were particularly frightening. Meyer continued testing after returning to Gainesville.

On Christmas Eve, Meyer told his family that he would be resigning. “I saw it as a sign from God that this was the right thing to do,” is how Meyer said he felt when his 18-year-old daughter Nicki was overjoyed to find out he was returning home. “I was worried about letting people down. I was feeling so awful and concerned about my health. That was among several other signs that said it’s time to back away.”

For now, Meyer’s focus is solely on the Sugar Bowl. “I just want to win this game for these players and make sure that the University of Florida is in good shape,” Meyer said. “I haven’t even thought about anything after that, other than I’m a Gator and I’ll always be a Gator.” Meyer also told the Times that the team cried but took the news well. “I was very concerned about that. They were awesome. They stayed 45 minutes afterward.”

Foley and Machen also made statements about Meyer’s resignation.

“Coach Meyer and I have talked this through and I realize how hard this was for him to reach this decision,” Foley said. “But, the bottom line is that Coach Meyer needed to make a choice that is in the best interest of his well being and his family. I certainly appreciate what he has meant to the University of Florida, our football program and the Gator Nation. I have never seen anyone more committed to his players, his family and his program. Above all, I appreciate our friendship.”

“Urban Meyer’s integrity, work ethic and commitment to his players are some of the reasons we asked him to become head football coach at the University of Florida,” Machen said. “As a Gator, Urban has done everything we asked of him and more. He leaves a lasting legacy on the field, in the classroom and in the Gainesville community. I am saddened that Urban is stepping down but I have deep respect for his decision.”

Meyer leaves Florida with a 56-10 record (32-8 SEC), a school-record 22-game winning streak, two BCS National Championships and two SEC Championships. His .841 career winning percentage (95-18) is the highest among active coaches with at least five years experience, and he is the only current coach to win two BCS titles.

“I love Coach Meyer,” senior quarterback Tim Tebow said in a statement released Saturday evening. “The past four years he has been my dad away from home. We will always have a father-son relationship for the rest of our lives. Coach loves the university, his players and the fans. I believe he has made the right decision for him and his family. He will always be loved by me and the Gator faithful.”

Meyer will host a press conference in New Orleans, LA, at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Florida sports information director Steve McClain has said that Meyer will not only stay on in a non-coaching role for the Gators, but that he will also be heavily involved in the hiring of his successor.

NOTES/RUMORS:
– McClain also said that reports of Meyer having a defective heart muscle and an unreported heart attack are incorrect.
– ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that Foley was aware of Meyer’s thoughts about resigning for a week.
– Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel reports that the Gators tried to keep Meyer by offering him time off.
– ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit says Meyer sounded “devastated” when the two spoke earlier.
– In a completely unconfirmed report, WKMG television in Orlando, FL, is reporting that Meyer suffered a heart attack during the season. Station sports director David Pingalore also is also reporting that Meyer did not inform anyone about the issue.
OGGOA source: Meyer may have had a heart attack upon his return to Gainesville after the SEC Championship.
– A source has told Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun that Meyer “just doesn’t have anything left in the tank” and “had been considering leaving coaching for more than a week, going back and forth on the decision.”
– Dooley said players were brought to tears when Meyer gathered the team.
– ESPN’s Pat Forde: Former defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, who was just recently hired as the Louisville Cardinals head coach, has only signed a term sheet with the University of Louisville and not yet a contract. The school’s media relations director, Rocco Gasparro, has confirmed this fact.

OGGOA will update this breaking news story as more is made available.

20 Comments

  1. Pingback: Tweets that mention BREAKING NEWS: Head coach Urban Meyer stepping down amid health concerns | ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive -- Topsy.com

  2. Elizabeth says:

    Bring back Charlie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. Brittany says:

    I am heartbroken, I will be praying for Urbans health!

  4. OrangeHulk says:

    Right decision. It’s just a game remember, not quite life and death even though sometimes if feels like it. Idea, Spurrier comes home to UF for next 2 years and retires as a Gator and then Urban comes back healthy to take over and picks up were he left off!

  5. Gatorfan33 says:

    I wish he could have made this decision before Charlie left. What coaches are out there that we would really want here at UF. I just pray to GOD that Addazio isn’t promoted to HC.

  6. DukeOfDway says:

    This is terrible. Obviously I want what’s best for Urban’s health, but there’s not another coach I’d rather have for UF.

    Shocking

  7. Aligator says:

    DAN MULLEN BABY!!!!!!!!!

  8. Brittany says:

    GatorFan33- I think this is something that just sprung up or he just found out about, I can’t see him allowing Charlie to leave if he knew this was going to happen. And I don’t think there is any chance of Addazio becoming head coach.

    Adam- could we get an ‘all of the above’ option on the poll, because that is how I feel.

  9. Sarah says:

    Wow. Just wow. Prayers going out for Urban, Shelly and the whole Meyer family. He has to do what is best for him and his health and for his family.

    But this is just so shocking. Not only did we lose Charlie, we are losing Urban. Makes sense why all the other UF coaches have been taking different jobs.

    But I just have one thing to say:
    Dear UF,
    DO NOT HIRE CHARLIE WEIS. PLEASE NO!

  10. Mr2Bits says:

    I was hoping tonight turned into April 1st somehow but I was wrong. Looks like its a Stoops brother or the dude from Utah to step in as thats all we have left. No Adazzio no Mullen

  11. Renee says:

    What about the ‘ol ball coach…?

  12. Mr2Bits says:

    Guess my top six are as follows.
    Gary Patterson
    Jim Harbaugh
    Steve Sarkisian
    Chris Peterson
    Bob Stoops
    Bronco Mendenhall

  13. BRLgator says:

    i heard a very random rumor about john fox of the carolina panthers id ont even know where the UF connection is. no way the ole ball coach comes back him and foley dont get a long and he isnt what we need

  14. Mr2Bits says:

    I also heard the Strong’s deal was terms on paper and no contract was officially signed? Is that true does anyone know or I am reaching?

  15. MR2Bits – check the rumors section of this post. There is quite a lot of additional information.

  16. Mr2Bits says:

    Thanks, seems like the post is getting longer and longer each time I refresh so I didnt go back, any news on recruits reactions?

  17. ReptilesRule says:

    My biggest concern is for Urban and his health. Obviously there are things going on we don’t know about for him to step away from his lifes passion (and 4 mil a year). My greatest hope now is that Urban gets everything straightened out and is able to return to what he loves best. He has a beautiful family that must come first. Urban and his entire family have become true Gators and deserve the full support of the entire Gator Nation.

  18. Aligator says:

    Foley will hire mullen and meyer will be his mentor for a couple of years, being the ambassador for the program and helping to recruit. you heard it here first …

  19. Sorry I have not been able to respond to everyone. Goal No. 1 right now is getting the story right and providing you with as much information as possible.

  20. Aligator says:

    doing a great job as usual Adam!

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