Florida coach Urban Meyer stepping down as head coach

GAINESVILLE -- University of Florida coach Urban Meyer announced on Saturday that he is resigning as head coach of the Florida Gators football team.

Through a statement released by the University of Florida, Meyer indicated that his health is the reason for the decision.

"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. "I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family."

Meyer checked himself into Shands Hospital at the University of Florida a few hours after the Gators lost to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game. According to the university, Meyer was treated for dehydration but Meyer has lived with an arachnoid cyst in his brain for many years. The cyst was first discovered when Meyer was head coach at Utah, but Meyer has suffered from symptoms such as head aches and fatigue since his days as an assistant coach at Notre Dame.

According to UF, Meyer will be available at a Sugar Bowl press conference at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday when the Gators arrive in New Orleans.

-jo-

Comments

[Kharma217]

What a surprise! Hope he's okay. I just wonder why he waited. Couldn't Charlie Strong have taken head coach position if he knew this?

[RicoPallazzo!!]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu(k.
It must be bad if he's stepping down.
I hope he's ok and my prayers go out to the guy.

Jo - Has the ink dried on the Charlie Strong contract? Strong to Louisville, Gonzalez gone ... what a tremendously ill timed confluence of misfortune.

this is where Foley ears his money. Is Heater getting pushed up, or McCarney?

Was still in shock from the SECCG. now this...

[dp517]

WTF! I hope he us ok but this sure is going to hurt recruiting and I hope Strong could back out of his deal!

[FistFullaRings]

I tell a lot of jokes, but I aint gonna make light of Meyer's health situation..............
Hopefully he can recover, and good luck to Bob Stoops in the 13' rematch. (If Foley doesn't "opt out" of it)

[dp517]

I hope he is going to be ok but this is really going to hurt recruiting! Any chance Strong can get out of his deal?

[UM95]

Wow... you guys are screwed. Hope you enjoyed your few years in the sun. The damage won't necessarily be evident next year or the year after, but it will be soon enough. Good luck finding your next guy.

[Joe]

Dear Urban: Thank you for the last six years and everything you have done for this program. I miss you already.

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

hope he is OK, this is bigger than football. My heart goes out to him and his family

[FZB]

Gator fans, I often come to this blog to trash your coach,your team and all its fans....THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT...

my prayers are with coach meyer and his family, I am stunned ! get well soon coach, college football needs you...from a canes fan.

[RichieRich]

Ouch, but serious I hope Urban takes care of his health first. A lot of changes for the Gator Nation in the past year with the coaching changes and all. Well Mr. Foley lets see if you can find another gem.

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

The Joker at Tennessee has just lost his Batman

[Booma Soona]

Wow...now the Gators are just slightly above the Canes instead of light years away.

Having no coach is much better than having Randy Shannon.

[wayne weaver]

heard he's sign, sealed and about to be delivered to the jaguars (according to the jacksonville press)..

[NC Redneck 200 miles away from the ocean]

Hey maybe you guys can get the old man from just up the road a piece. Rummor has it that he really did not want to go....you might even save a few bucks and look at it this way, you will NEVER loose to FSU again if you hire him.Just a thought....Well you can try to get USF head coach or maybe MR. S from Fla Atlantic. Good luck in your search.. Oh just one last passing thought Maybe you can get Lou Holtz away from ESPN oh well gotta go now its time for me to LMAO.. Bye Bye

[A little bird]

I hope he is going to be ok but this is really going to hurt recruiting! Any chance Strong can get out of his deal?

Posted by: dp517 | December 26, 2009 at 07:42 PM

Strong has only signed a "tender". He has NOT signed the official contract yet... Now the question is, who will the Gators get ? Strong, Mullen (small buyout) or someone else to babysit the program a few years til Meyer decides to step back in as Head Coach... Remember, Meyer's not going anywhere. He is stepping down because he has a cyst in his brain and an abnormality/muscle problem with his heart... The Doctors said weeks ago that he MUST take extended time off to address these health problems. He's staying on as a 4 million dollar per year employee/Bill Parcells type consultant. He will continue to "help" with recruiting (if this class stays put, you'll know why later) and the running of the program as long as his contract runs. But his only on field coaching duties for a few years will be with his 12 yr. old son...

But the real question remains, will Mullen (he's the target and for 2 years would be a step up from MSU), Strong or whomever want to assume the head job with Meyer likely in waiting? The obvious answer is no. But at a program like Florida's it's a possibility... The next 24-48 hours we will know so much more. Foley will remedy this situation ASAP and probably already has. The cards will fall into place quickly.

btw... Bernie Machen will step down as President soon. A national search is already under way.

[Gsct]

I want Will Muschamp. Guy is a legit coach, young, fiery, that knows the SEC.

[TebowTears]

Gator fans now get the team they deserve. The end is here.

[TebowTears]

The Empire is falling, falling, falling...hahaha!

[emilio]

PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA 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OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT PEACE DA FUC OUT

[Real Life]

*** there are unconfirmed reports that Meyer is scheduled to have that arachnoid cyst removed from is brain soon. It's not considered to be life-threatening surgery , but as with any operation performed to the brain, it is considered serious. A long prolonged 4-6 month recovery time is standard***

[sidcane]

tHAT LAST POST BY EMILIO WAS A CONGLOMERATION OF UF'S NEXT RECRUITING CLASS. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[PUNA]

I'd rather have Randy Shannon that Turban Liar any day!! Watch what comes in the next few weeks. Probation, Probation, Probation!!!! WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Russell]

Wow, I wonder if Strong knew about this before taking the Louisville job. Reminds of UM in 2000 when Davis left, just before that Schiano took the HC at Rutgers. Tubberville? Miami's Whipple? Forget about Petersen, he isn't leaving Boise any time soon. I'd look at Wittingham at Utah where UF got Meyer from. How does this affect the Gators no. 1 recruiting class? I'd hate to be the new HC though if Meyer is taking a "non-coaching" role with Gators. Think NBA Heat with Riley deciding to come in and take over whenever he wants to. Would Meyer do the same with whoever Foley hires?

[RicoPallazzo!!]

Emilio, Emilio ... todavia un puto, siempre celoso de los Gators ...

[dp517]

You know I felt bad at first for Urban when I thought this was serious...but whatever! Quitting over stress!!!! Boo frickin hoo! I teach middle schoolers all day. I am WAY more stressed, get paid WAY less and oh yeah, I'm working in an environment where most of my clients don't want to be there because it's not a game! Such bull Meyer...I'm disappointed and you're a spoiled brat.

[sidcane]

SINKING,SINKING,SINKING,BLOOP,BLOOP,BLOOP!

[Wahhh Wahhh Wahhhh]

I teach middle schoolers all day.

I'm working in an environment where most of my clients don't want to be there

Posted by: dp517 | December 26, 2009 at 11:47 PM

and your intelligence level is right on par with them ... No wonder our kids are growing up to be mental midgets with educators like U ...

Not much of a motivator are U ?

[Ur the Expert]

SINKING,SINKING,SINKING,BLOOP,BLOOP,BLOOP!

Posted by: sidcane | December 27, 2009 at 12:24 AM

Plenty of experience with that the last 7 years huh Admiral dUmasse ?

big difference between the Top Head Coaching candidates coming to you rather than running from U .

[Canesjunkie]

Prayers for Urban Meyer...this is much bigger than football.