According to multiple sources Urban Meyer will step down as Ohio State football coach after the 2019 Rose Bowl. Ohio State plays Washington on New Year’s Day. Current assistant Ryan Day will replace Meyer as head coach on January 2nd. The school will hold a press conference at 2pm local time to make the official announcement. Meyer is 54 years old.
Meyer is 82-9 in seven seasons in Columbus, including 54-4 in conference. His coaching tenure also includes six seasons as the head coach at Florida, two in Utah and two at Bowling Green. His career record is 186-32.
He “retired” from Florida due to health concerns after the 2010 season. He took one year off, working in broadcasting and then returned to the sidelines to coach the Buckeyes beginning in 2012.
Meyer has had health concerns again this season, stemming from migraine issues related to a cyst. He had surgery in 2014, and another surgery is a possibility.
Meyer won two national championships at Florida and one at Ohio State. This will be his first time coaching in the Rose Bowl game. The Buckeyes just defeated Northwestern last weekend to win their second consecutive Big Ten title. They finished sixth in the final College Football Playoff voting.
Day was the temporary coach at Ohio State earlier this season when Meyer was suspended due to his handling of the Zach Smith controversy, as he was accused of covering domestic abuse charges for one of his assistant coaches.
The timing of the announcement helps the school put an end to speculation about Meyer’s future ahead of the early signing period which begins December 19th.
