Urban Meyer earns lifetime honor 10 years after winning final National Championship
Urban Meyer will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. This week, marking the 10-year anniversary of Ohio State's last National Championship win, Meyer learned he'll join Michael Vick and Nick Saban as headlining inductees. “I was one of those young guys that, even when people had a lot of other interests, mine […]
Urban Meyer will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. This week, marking the 10-year anniversary of Ohio State's last National Championship win, Meyer learned he'll join Michael Vick and Nick Saban as headlining inductees.
“I was one of those young guys that, even when people had a lot of other interests, mine was really college football,” Meyer told The Dispatch. “I grew up in the shadow of the Ten-Year War with Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes and all those great players. As a guy that is a true historian of the game, it's a great honor and one that I'll cherish the rest of my life.”
Meyer is a highly successful yet controversial figure in the history of college football coaching. Renowned for his intense leadership and innovative offensive tactics, he has built a legacy that includes three national championships and numerous conference titles, rapidly transforming each program he led into a contender.
Meyer began his coaching career in the 1980s as an assistant at various institutions, including Ohio State, Illinois State, Colorado State, and Notre Dame. His first head coaching role was at Bowling Green State University in 2001, where he quickly revitalized a struggling program, achieving a 17-6 record in just two seasons.
In 2003, Meyer took the helm at the University of Utah, where he gained national acclaim. By implementing his signature spread offense, he guided the Utes to an undefeated 12-0 season in 2004, culminating in a victory at the Fiesta Bowl. This success earned him numerous accolades, solidifying his status as one of college football’s top coaching talents.
Meyer’s most notable tenure came at the University of Florida from 2005 to 2010. During his time in Gainesville, he secured two national championships (in 2006 and 2008) and coached Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow. His teams were characterized by their dynamic offenses and tenacious defenses, often dominating the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
However, Meyer's time at Florida was marred by controversy, with off-field issues related to player behavior and his own health concerns leading to his resignation in 2010.
After a brief break from coaching, he returned in 2012 to Ohio State University, where he further solidified his legacy. Under his guidance, the Buckeyes enjoyed an undefeated season in 2012 and won a national championship in 2014 as part of the newly implemented College Football Playoff system.
During his seven years at Ohio State from 2012 to 2018, Meyer posted an impressive record of 83-9, never losing more than two games in a single season and maintaining an undefeated streak against Michigan. Although his 2012 team was undefeated, it was ineligible for postseason play due to NCAA violations committed during Jim Tressel's tenure.
Meyer’s overall winning percentage across his time at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and Ohio State stands at .854, ranking him third all-time behind Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy.
He retired from coaching in 2018, citing health issues, but made a surprising return to the sidelines in 2021 when he became the head coach of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Unfortunately, this period was short-lived and fraught with challenges, concluding after only 13 games, marked by poor performance and off-field controversies.
Remarkable achievements, innovative strategies, and controversies define urban Meyer's coaching career. His influence on college football is undeniable, but his brief foray into the NFL underscored the obstacles of transitioning to a different level of competition.