Throughout his 17 years as a university soccer head coach, City Meyer gained three nationwide titles, led 4 applications to prominence and established himself as probably the greatest coaches of his period. Nevertheless, Meyer’s legacy additionally consists of well being issues and controversial departures from Florida and Ohio State. Meyer, who on Thursday was named the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ new coach, is a no-nonsense coach whose teaching philosophy was largely influenced by former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce, who additionally served as an assistant underneath legendary Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes. Whereas Meyer’s program is not for everybody, it led to near-instant success for Bowling Inexperienced, Utah, Florida and Ohio State throughout his time on their respective campuses. We’ll dive a bit deeper into Meyer’s teaching previous to supply context and an outlook on what Jacksonville can anticipate transferring ahead.

Early success

A 2-9 workforce previous to his arrival, Bowling Inexperienced went 20-6 underneath Meyer throughout his two seasons with the Falcons. Bowling Inexperienced completed within the top-25 each years whereas profitable consecutive bowl video games for less than the second time at school historical past. Meyer then turned a Utah workforce that went 5-6 the earlier 12 months right into a 10-2 outfit in 2003. The following season, Utah, led by quarterback Alex Smith, capped off a 12-0 season by routing Huge East champion Pittsburgh within the Fiesta Bowl. Two years later, Meyer held up his first of three crystal footballs after main Florida to a shocking upset win over Ohio State within the BCS Nationwide Championship Sport. Two seasons later, Tim Tebow helped Meyer win his second nationwide title in Gainesville following a BCS title sport win over Oklahoma. 

Meyer’s first championship — Florida’s 41-14 win over Ohio State — is what actually put the then 42-year-old coach on the map. The win was the beginning of the SEC’s ongoing dominance over the remainder of school soccer. The win additionally showcased Meyer’s modern unfold offense, which on the time featured Tebow and Percy Harvin. Meyer’s unfold offense was ultimately copied by each profitable school program. It has additionally discovered its approach into the NFL, as nearly each offense has performs that mimic what Meyer popularized 15 years earlier. 

Previous controversies

That is the place the story takes an unceremonious flip. In 2009, following his workforce’s loss to Alabama within the 2009 SEC title sport, Meyer introduced his resignation, citing well being issues that included chest pains and extreme complications. Meyer, after asserting that he would as a substitute take a go away of absence in the course of the offseason, returned to the sidelines for Florida’s Sugar Bowl win over Cincinnati. Meyer in the end stepped down after the Gators posted a disappointing 7-5 document in 2010. 

In April of 2012, the Sporting Information revealed a narrative accusing Meyer of giving choose gamers particular privileges whereas together with them inside his “Circle of Belief”. Meyer later denied having a “Circle of Belief” however did acknowledge that sure gamers most likely acquired particular privileges. Florida additionally handled a slew of off-field incidents throughout that point. Over 30 gamers had been arrested throughout Meyer’s six seasons at Florida, with the fees together with aggravated assault, battery, theft, show of a hid weapon, drug possession, and unauthorized use of a bank card. 

The following step in his journey

After a 12 months within the media, Meyer accepted the provide to develop into Ohio State’s new coach in November of 2011. At his introductory press convention, Meyer mentioned that he had signed a household contract that will power him to dwell a extra balanced life upon his return to teaching. Meyer additionally acknowledged that he had addressed the well being points that contributed to his departure from Florida.  

Meyer took over a Buckeyes program that was within the midst of an NCAA investigation that resulted in a postseason ban for the 2012 season. Regardless of the ban, Meyer’s first Ohio State workforce posted an ideal 12-0 document that included a win over arch-rival Michigan. Meyer would win his first 24 video games in Columbus earlier than main the Buckeyes to an unbelievable nationwide championship run in 2014. 

Extra controversy, well being issues comply with

Whereas Meyer elevated Ohio State’s standing as a university soccer energy, he once more confronted controversy in the summertime of 2018. In August of that 12 months, he was positioned on administrative go away that included a three-game suspension after stories surfaced about Meyer’s information of spousal abuse allegations towards former assistant coach Zach Smith. Whereas he by no means mentioned the specifics of his information of Smith’s home state of affairs, Meyer admitted to having a “blind spot” because it associated to Smith, who was the grandson of Meyer’s teaching icon, Earle Bruce. 

After returning to guide Ohio State to a Huge 10 title, Meyer, citing well being issues, introduced that he would retire following Ohio State’s Rose Bowl matchup with Washington. Following the Buckeyes’ 28-23 win, Meyer acknowledged that his suspension firstly of the 12 months was a consider his choice to retire. 

The pivot to broadcasting

Meyer returned to broadcasting over the past two school soccer seasons. He additionally continued to be employed by Ohio State, with his official job standing being the Assistant Athletics Director — Athletics Initiatives and Relations. Meyer and his spouse, Shelley, proceed to serve on the board of the Columbus Girls’s Care Middle. The couple additionally created a fund for most cancers analysis at The James Most cancers Hospital, which is situated on Ohio State’s campus. 

What’s subsequent

Whereas he had his faults, Meyer was a confirmed winner on the faculty stage. His problem on the subsequent stage can be discovering a strategy to join with millionaire athletes who most likely will not love the prospect of early morning runs, which is Meyer instantly built-in after coming to Columbus. But when Meyer is ready to get sufficient gamers to purchase into his culture-heavy philosophy, the Jaguars might discover success underneath Meyer ahead of most would anticipate. 

“Relentless effort (not expertise or intelligence) is the important thing to reaching nice issues in your life,” Meyer wrote in his 2017 autobiography. “Battle is a part of the method. It’s onerous and infrequently painful. But it surely’s additionally mandatory, as a result of it is within the battle that nice issues are achieved.”