COLUMBUS, Ohio — If Ohio State did not come calling, Urban Meyer says he was planning to stay away from coaching for at least another year.
Meyer, the former Florida coach and native Buckeye, was officially hired Monday by Ohio State, a program with a glittering past that has suffered through a difficult year of NCAA violations.
“A year ago, in my mind I was convinced I was done coaching,” Meyer said.
He resigned as Gators coach after last season, citing health concerns and a desire to spend more time with his family. He added that he is feeling great.
“I’ve been checked out and I’m ready to go,” he said. “I’ve been to a place and I don’t want to go back.”
Meyer will become one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, along with Alabama’s Nick Saban, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops and Texas’ Mack Brown. Ohio State says Meyer will receive a six-year contract that pays $4 million annually, plus another $2.4 million total in “retention payments.” He also can qualify for supplemental bonuses.
Interim coach Luke Fickell will coach the Buckeyes (6-6) in their bowl game and be retained by Meyer.
Neuheisel out.
UCLA fired coach Rick Neuheisel after four seasons. He will be allowed to coach the Bruins (6-6, 5-4 Pac-12) in Friday’s Pac-12 title game at Oregon. Neuheisel is 21-28 since taking over the program in December 2007.
The Associated Press
