The Urban Meyer controversy at the Ohio State University finally seems to settle down after the head football coach announced his retirement.
Meyer announced his decision to step down at a press conference on Tuesday. He will retire following the school football team’s appearance at the Rose Bowl Game on January 1, 2019.
“It has been an honor to represent for the last seven years this football program, my home state of Ohio, this university and community that I care so deeply about,” Meyer said.
“I am grateful to Buckeye Nation, the students, faculty, our administration and, most importantly, our student-athletes for their support and respect for this program during this time.”
The university also announced that Ohio’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ryan Day will be Meyer’s successor.
“I am truly honored to be here today and am so appreciative to President Drake and Gene Smith for the faith they have in me to lead this team,” Day said. “I love this program and its student-athletes and I want Buckeye Nation to know how hard we are going to work to ensure this program remains the very best in the country.”
While heaping praises on Meyer and crediting him with building best college-level athletics program, university president Michael V. Drake said, “Year after year, he forges close bonds with our student-athletes and helps them develop into leaders on the field and in our communities. His investment is total. He leaves an incredible record of success and an indelible legacy as Ohio State’s head coach.”
Earlier this year, Meyer was placed on paid administrative leave following allegations that he knew one of his assistant coach Zach Smith had committed domestic violence. After an investigation, he was suspended for three games over the handling of allegations.
The probe conducted by Mary Jo White, senior chair with the law firm Debevoise, found Meyer and Smith failing to comply with the requirements of their contracts.
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