Urban Meyer’s days as a head coach are over, at least for the foreseeable future.
During an appearance at the Knoxville Quarterback Club on Monday, Meyer told those in attendance that he has “no desire” to return to coaching. The story was first reported by Mike Wilson of the Knoxville News Sentinel.
“I am good,” Meyer added, noting that despite stepping away from his coaching job at Florida and Ohio State, he “never really took a day off,” citing health issues and an addiction to sleeping pills while calling himself a “maniac work”.
Wilson in the story also notes that Meyer cited the transfer portal and NIL as another reason that he has little desire to get back into coaching.
“It’s never been harder I am telling you right now,” Meyer said about the current state of college football. “Every coach, every player has an agent. Thank for that. Remember those days? Maybe a coordinator every once in a while had an agent. There is nothing wrong with agents. They’re great.
But when I am the head coach having to deal with a high school player that (says) meet with my agent first. I am going I want to meet with your family because you are talking about recruiting and other stuff.”
The 59-year-old head coach stepped away from the college game in 2018 after seven seasons at Ohio State due to health concerns.
It was the second time that Meyer had stepped down from a head coaching position due to health reasons, he also did so in 2010, two years after leading the Florida Gators to their second national championship in three years.
Meyer, considered one of the best coaches of his generation, is a three-time national champion leading the Florida Gators to a pair of national titles in 2006 and 2008 while also leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship in 2014. He also was the head coach at Bowling Green and Utah over the course of his head coaching career.
Over the course of his illustrious career, Meyer led his programs to a combined record of 187-32, the fourth-highest winning percentage of all-time for any FBS head coach.
After serving as an analyst for Fox’s college football coverage in 2019 and 2020, Meyer would have a one-year stint in the NFL as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. He would be fired after a 2-11 start for the Jaguars that season.
Since then, Meyer has returned to Fox, once again serving as one of the network’s college football analysts, being featured on their weekly Big Noon Saturday pregame show as well as the halftime show of that week’s featured matchup.
Meyer’s denial of having any desire to coach again comes in the midst of his name being brought up in connection to the opening at Michigan State following the firing of Mel Tucker. The Spartans are currently being led by interim head coach Harlon Barnett and have lost four straight games since starting 2-0 on the season.
If Urban Meyer’s career is truly over, it will be a mixed legacy for the Ohio native.
On one end, Meyer delivered great success anywhere he went, collecting 12 double-digit win seasons in his 17 seasons as a head coach. His programs finished first or tied for first in their division 12 times, he also collected seven conference championships, and his previous three national championships.
On the other hand, his times at Florida and Ohio State had their fair share of controversy, some of that controversy in Gainesville was recently covered in a Netflix miniseries titled Untold: Swamp Kings which takes a look at the success the Florida Gators achieved during Meyer’s time with the program but also the culture and issues that arose during his tenure as well.
At Ohio State, Meyer’s final season was marred by allegations that he did not handle domestic abuse allegations against Buckeyes assistant coach Zach Smith properly, ultimately resulting in Meyer being placed on administrative release and receiving a three-game suspension. His lone year in the NFL was considered quite tumultuous as well, with multiple issues arising both within the Jaguars franchise and Meyers’ personal life.
With all that being said, while Meyer may currently have “no desire” to return to the coaching ranks, it will surely not stop any potential suitors from giving the future College Football Hall of Fame head coach a call.