Meyer Made A Lasting Impact At Utah
Dec 4, 2018, 5:25 PM | Updated: Jun 3, 2020, 2:12 pm
Utah head coach, Urban Meyer, yells at his team from the sidelines against Pittsburgh in the Tostito's Fiesta Bowl at the Sun Devil Stadium on January 1, 2005 in Tempe, Arizona. Utah won the game with the score of 35-7. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images).
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – At a press conference at Ohio State University, head coach Urban Meyer announced his intention to retire from coaching after the Buckeyes’ upcoming Rose Bowl appearance.
“I believe I will not coach again”
–Urban Meyer pic.twitter.com/8imMuGnJNU
— ESPN (@espn) December 4, 2018
Though his coaching career also included stops at Bowling Green and Florida as well as Ohio State, Meyer will be remembered locally for his contributions to the University of Utah.
A Quick Turnaround At Utah
Prior to his Utah days, Meyer began his coaching career at Bowling Green where he led the team to a 17-6 record under his tenure, and was honored as the 2001 MAC coach of the year.
In 2002, Utah finished with a 5-6 record and dismissed beloved head coach Ron McBride. Soon after joining the Utes, Urban Meyer rebuilt the program and led the team to a 10-2 record and Utah’s first outright conference championship since 1957. He was honored as the Mountain West Conference coach of the year as well as the Sporting News national coach of the year.
In 2004, Meyer led the Utes to an undefeated 12-0 season and a Fiesta Bowl victory over Pittsburgh. The Utes became the first mid-major school to play in a Bowl Championship Series bowl in the Fiesta Bowl. Meyer won multiple honors as the national coach of the year in 2004. His quarterback protégé, Alex Smith, became Utah’s first No. 1 overall pick.
Many believe that Meyer paved the way for his successor, Kyle Whittingham, and the Utes to join the Pac-12 in 2011.
Honestly the most impressive victory of Urban Meyer career might have been going undefeated at Utah and demolishing Pitt in 2005 BCS bowl game. That win elevated Utah into the program it is now.
— Justin Seagraves (@jmseagraves) December 4, 2018
Meyer’s Coaching Tree
Several of Meyer’s assistants at Utah went on to become head coaches.
Mike Sanford went on to become the head coach at UNLV. Dan Mullen became the head coach at Mississippi State before moving on to Florida. Gary Andersen was named the head coach at Utah State in 2009 and went on to be the head coach at Wisconsin and Oregon State before returning to Utah to join Whittingham’s staff.
