Urban Meyer is stepping down as football coach at Florida, the school’s athletic director announced Wednesday.
“I fully grasp the sacrifices my 24/7 profession has demanded of me, and I know it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field,” Meyer said.“I will profoundly miss coming to campus every day to coach this team, but I will always be a Gator at heart,” he said.
A news conference was scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Meyer will coach his last game for Florida in the Outback Bowl against Penn State on Jan. 1 in Tampa.
The Gators, who won two national championships and two Southeastern Conference titles under Meyer, had a disappointing season in 2010, going 7-5 (4-4 SEC). A 31-7 drubbing at in-state rival Florida State on Nov. 27 gave Florida five regular-season losses for the first time since 1988.
A year ago, Meyer announced he was retiring over health concerns, only to back away from that a day later and announce he was taking a leave of absence from coaching. He was back to his regular routine before spring practice.
He cited health concerns last year when he briefly quit. He had been hospitalized with chest pains after the Gators lost to Alabama in last season’s Southeastern Conference championship game.
This time he did not mention his health being an issue.
“The decision to step down was a difficult one,” Meyer said. “But, after spending more than two decades motivating and celebrating the young men I’ve been so proud to coach, I relish the opportunity to cheer for my three terrific kids as they compete in their own respective sports.”
A three-time national coach of the year, Meyer posted a 64-15 record in six seasons at Florida. He also coached at Utah and Bowling Green.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to have Urban Meyer be our football coach for six years,” Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said in a statement. “He has given everything he has to this institution and we are grateful for the experiences.”
