Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed former University of Florida and Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees this week. Meyer won two national championships with the Gators in 2006 and 2008 before moving on to Ohio State, where he won a national championship with the Buckeyes in 2014.
Meyer also had head coaching stints at Bowling Green University and the University of Utah early in his career. Overall, Meyer's .854 winning percentage is tied for third in major college football (D1) history, trailing only Frank Leahy and Knute Rockne, and tied with current Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.
Overall, Meyer's career record is 187-32 across 17 collegiate seasons. They include 65 wins at Florida and 83 wins at Ohio State.
Meyer is one of 2 coaches to win multiple national championships at two different schools in the modern era, joining Nick Saban. Saban won one with Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2003 and six at the University of Alabama in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020.
During his collegiate tenure, Meyer coached several high-profile players, including former Florida Gators Quarterback Tim Tebow. Tebow won the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in college football, in 2007.
Meyer also coached future NFL [National Football League] players Percy Harvin at Florida, Ezekiel Elliott at Ohio State, and Alex Smith at Utah.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025. Meyer is currently a College Football Analyst for FOX Sports.
While known for his college success, Meyer coached the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 2-11 record before being fired mid-season in 2021 due to poor performance and numerous on and off-field incidents.
The 61-year-old Meyer grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and went to the University of Cincinnati, where he played defensive back for one season in 1984. He later earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from the school in 1986 and his master's degree in sports administration from Ohio State in 1998.
New College of Florida is located in Sarasota.
