Ohio State University head coachUrban Meyerconfirmed that his victory over the Washington Huskies at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday night would be the last game of his career.
“I know this is relatively young, but I started young — 17 years as a head coach, 33 years doing this,” Urban, told reporters after the game in Pasadena, according toESPN. “[I’m] just very fortunate, and I do believe I’m done.”
Urban’s wife, Shelley Meyer, said his retirement was something she had been looking forward to for a long time but appeared to not be convinced that her husband is closing the door on coaching.
“I would be ecstatic if he didn’t [coach again],” Shelley told reporters. “I’m done. I want him to be done. He’s too intense.”
She continued: “It’s an end to something that we’ve been doing for a long, long, long time… I’m sad, but I’m really happy for him because this is what needed to happen right now.”
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Urban is not leaving the university, however, as he will now take on the role of assistant athletic director at Ohio State and will co-teach a course titled Leadership and Character in Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business, according to ESPN.
OSU offensive coordinator Ryan Day took over the team as head coach on Wednesday morning, according toESPN.
Urban was originally diagnosed with the cyst in the late 1980s,USA Todayreported, and he recently underwent surgery to remove fluid from it.
Since deciding to retire, Shelley said she had noticed a positive change in her husband’s attitude.
“He’s been fun again,” she explained. “He’s back to the Urban I knew when he wasn’t so stressed out and anxious and having headaches.”
While Urban dealt with problems away from the field this season, there were many controversial matters plaguing his program as well. He was suspended for three games in August after a two-week investigation into his termination of assistant coach Zach Smith, whose ex-wife, Courtney, accused him of domestic abuse.
Smith told 105.7 The Zone that he “never committed domestic abuse against her” but admitted they had a “toxic” relationship.
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The university also found that Urban, as Smith’s manager, did not proactively respond to his employee’s alleged criminal history.
“I’m fully aware that I’m ultimately responsible for this situation that has harmed the university as a whole and the Department of Athletics and our football program,” Urban said inresponseto the suspension.
source: people.com
