Urban Meyer will be paid a salary of $100,000 in his new role as Ohio State's assistant athletic director of athletics initiatives and relations, the university confirmed Friday in response to a public records request by Eleven Warriors.
The terms of Meyer's new role at Ohio State, per the university:
The Assistant AD, Athletics Initiatives and Relations is responsible for fundraising and community relations initiatives and is committed to excellence and advancing Department of Athletics through its strategic plan. In alignment with the department’s mission and values, and in conjunction with the Executive Associate Athletics Director for Development, this position provides leadership and supports fundraising strategies for the Department of Athletics. The Assistant AD, Athletics Initiatives and Relations will serve as an ambassador through numerous speaking engagements, service events, donor events, corporate events and engagements. This position will work collaboratively with department administrators to assist in the areas of recruiting, academics, SA personal development programs and game day events. The Assistant AD, Athletics Initiatives and Relations will partner with the Associate AD, Sport Administration and Student Athlete Development to help to design, develop, and deliver student athlete leadership initiatives as well as partnering with the Associate AD, Human Resources to design, develop, and deliver leadership training for head coaches and assistant coaches. This position works in a creative and collaborative team environment where change is embraced and innovation is encouraged.
In summary, Meyer is set to work closely with several other members of Ohio State's athletics administration – including executive associate athletics director for development Dan Cloran, associate athletic director of sport administration Carey Fagan and associate athletic director of human resources Kristy Mullins – to support fundraising and community initiatives, make appearances on Ohio State's behalf and develop leadership initiatives and training for both coaches and student-athletes.
Meyer is also currently co-teaching a class on leadership and character at Ohio State's Fisher College of Business with Lt. Col. Charles Buchanan. An Ohio State spokesperson said Friday that Meyer's salary with the Fisher College of Business is $2,500, but he has asked the college to donate that salary to a charity of its choice.
Sporting News' Michael McCarthy reported Thursday that Meyer is also nearing a deal with Fox Sports to become a TV analyst for the network's college football coverage, though neither Fox Sports nor Ohio State has confirmed that as of yet.
Meyer's final contract at Ohio State's head coach, signed last March, included a stipulation for Ohio State to give Meyer "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" upon the conclusion of his coaching career.
Had Meyer continued in his previous role as Ohio State's head football coach, he was set to make $8 million in 2019.
Meyer said earlier this week during an interview with 105.7 The Zone that he is currently working with the university to expand the Real Life Wednesdays program, which he made a part of the football program when he arrived at Ohio State, to work with student-athletes across all sports.
