We thought it may happen sooner or later, but it has just become official this morning that Urban Meyer will be retiring from coaching and will coach his last game for Ohio State at the Rose Bowl on January 1st. 

Meyer has dealt with his share of scandals and health problems over the past year and his entire career. Most recently, he has been having issues with a brain cyst that was visibly taking a toll on him, as seen in the Maryland game when you could tell he was in pain on the sideline. This is reminiscent of the heart issue that caused Meyer to originally leave Florida years ago.

Over his 17 years as a head coach, Meyer has amassed a 186-32 record, seven conference championships, and three national titles.  Meyer is currently 28th on the all-time wins list and 3rd in career winning percentage among coaches with at least ten years of experience. It is no doubt that, while short, Meyer has been one of the best ever.

After the Rose Bowl on New Years’ Day, Meyer’s first, Ryan Day will be assuming the head coaching role at Ohio State. He has been pegged as the coach in waiting in Columbus for a while now and served as the interim in Meyer’s absence at the beginning of the season. Day, 39, will have quite the task to start out his head coaching career as he has never held that position before. Obviously though, Meyer and Ohio State have faith in Day to keep the program moving in the right direction.

After just missing out on the playoff for the second year in a row, the Buckeyes will play in Pasadena against the Pac 12 Champion Washington Huskies on January 1 as they try to give Meyer a fitting send off to a successful career.