Urban Meyer's tenure as Ohio State's head coach is coming to an end after seven seasons.
Meyer is set to formally announce his retirement in a press conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday, and Ryan Day will replace him, becoming the 25th head coach in Ohio State history.
Meyer will coach his final game with the Buckeyes in next month's Rose Bowl against Washington.
According to Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel, the team was scheduled to be informed in a meeting early Tuesday morning.
Meyer's retirement comes following a season that began with him being suspended by Ohio State for three games after the university determined he failed to take significant management action relating to alleged misconduct by former assistant coach Zach Smith, and in which he revealed that he was battling severe headaches as a result of an enlarged arachnoid cyst in his brain.
After being asked about a report by Football Scoop's Scott Roussel on Friday that Meyer had told Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith that he did not plan to coach past 2019, Meyer responded, "No comment on that."
Now, we know why.
Day, Ohio State's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, takes over as head coach after serving as acting head coach for three games while Meyer was suspended.
The Athletic's Ari Wasserman had reported in September that Ohio State had begun discussions with Day about being Meyer's successor as head coach, and now, that succession will take place in January.
According to Thamel, "all indications point to Day planning to keep veteran strength coach Mickey Marotti, director of operations Brian Voltolini, respected personnel director Mark Pantoni and player development director Ryan Stamper."
Meyer's tenure comes to an end following seven seasons in Columbus, highlighted by a national championship season in 2014 and a 7-0 record against Ohio State's archrival Michigan. He has gone 82-9 over those seven seasons, good for a .901 winning percentage.
Per Thamel, "Meyer is expected to spend more time with his family, which includes one grandchild and another on the way. He may consider television work and could potentially do work with the Ohio State athletic department in some capacity. That role could include mentoring coaches and leaders, as Meyer has maintained a strong relationship with Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith."
Meyer's final contract extension as Ohio State's head coach, signed in April, outlined the possibility for Meyer to take on a future administrative role at the university. Per the addendum that was added to his contract, "Ohio State will give Coach an opportunity to be employed at the University in an administrative role with duties related to public relations, fund raising, assisting sports administrators with professional development programing for assistant coaches, lecturing in the Masters of Coaching curriculum, or such or other different duties as mutually agreed upon with the Director of Athletics" should Meyer remain Ohio State's head coach on Jan. 31, 2023. Ohio State won't be contractually obligated to offer Meyer any role now, but it could certainly still happen.
Meyer's decision to announce his retirement prior to the bowl game follows a similar precedent to the end of his tenure at Florida. Meyer announced prior to Florida's bowl game in 2009, his fifth season with the Gators, that he would step down following the bowl game that season. That ultimately became a leave of absence, and he returned for the 2010 season, but announced his resignation for good prior to the bowl game that year.
For his career as a whole, Meyer has a record of 186-32, including three national championships, with the first two coming at Florida.
