The University of Florida Athletic Director announced Wednesday that Urban Meyer will be resigning as the head coach of the Florida Gators. Meyer will coach the Gators in the Outback Bowl against Penn State on January 1st.
Urban Meyer confirmed his resignation saying “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.”
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 is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in college football. Despite a disappointing 2010 campaign at Florida (7-5, 4-4), his six year stint as the head Gator includes 64 wins, two SEC championships and two national championships.
The vacancy at Florida instantly makes it the most coveted of all the available coaching vacancies. It could have an enormous impact on the University of Miami coaching search. Not only does the Florida opening knock the University of Miami down one peg on the coaching carousel, the close proximity between the two universities means that they may be fighting over the same short list.
Dan Mullen has been a name consistently linked with the Hurricanes’ coaching vacancy. In fact, sources have said today that Dan Mullen has spoken with the University of Miami. It is expected that Dan Mullen will also be on the University of Florida’s short list as he was the offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer. Mullen was in charge of the offense and the quarterback coach of the “Tebow Era” in Gainesville.
