Meyer accepts Gators coaching job

InsidetheGators.net has confirmed that Urban Meyer has been hired as the next coach at the University of Florida.

According to our source close to the Florida program, Meyer has agreed to a contract worth $2 million per year over seven years.

He will meet with the media in Salt Lake City tomorrow morning after meeting with his Utah players.

The decision came at the end of a long day of speculation, during which early reports had Meyer going to Notre Dame to replace Tyrone Willingham. But as the day progressed, reports surfaced that Meyer would be the man to replace Ron Zook in Gainesville.

Still, as of early evening on Friday, there was no official word on the confirmation of Meyer's hiring by any UF officials, and it looked like the situation might drag on for a little while. With the 2003 team banquet scheduled for Friday night, UF officials may have been sensitive to not stepping on the toes of the team again and let the night go off without a hitch, and then make the announcement official.

There has also been no word on Zook's plans to coach the Gators in the Peach Bowl, but a source told us it was not going to happen. Zook, who interviewed with Illinois recently and is waiting to hear from the Illini, is also the No. 2 guy on the Ole Miss wish list to replace David Cutcliffe, behind Louisville's Bobby Petrino. If Meyer sticks to his stated desire to coach Utah in its bowl, likely the Fiesta, the interim coaching duties for Florida in the Peach Bowl will likely be turned over to a current assistant on the staff.

MEYER'S MARKS

Year School Overall Conference

2001 Bowling Green 8-3 5-3

2002 Bowling Green 9-3 6-2

2003 Utah 10-2 6-1

2004 Utah 11-0 7-0

Totals 38-8 24-6

MEYER'S COACHING CHRONOLOGY

Year School Assignment Bowl Experience

1986 Ohio State Tight ends (Grad. Asst.) Cotton Bowl

1987 Ohio State Receivers (Grad. Asst.)

1988 Illinois State Outside Linebackers

1989 Illinois State Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers

1990 Colorado State Wide Receivers Freedom Bowl

1991 Colorado State Wide Receivers

1992 Colorado State Wide Receivers

1993 Colorado State Wide Receivers

1994 Colorado State Wide Receivers Holiday Bowl

1995 Colorado State Wide Receivers Holiday Bowl

1996 Notre Dame Wide Receivers

1997 Notre Dame Wide Receivers Independence Bowl

1998 Notre Dame Wide Receivers/Special Teams Gator Bowl

1999 Notre Dame Wide Receivers

2000 Notre Dame Wide Receivers Fiesta Bowl

2001 Bowling Green Head Coach

2002 Bowling Green Head Coach

2003 Utah Head Coach Liberty Bowl

2004 Utah Head Coach Bowl TBA