Urban Meyer Stepping Down at Florida: Health Issues, Broncos or Family?

This is not a repeat from 2009 … this is actually happening in 2010 as well. Florida coach Urban Meyer, who stepped down from the job a year ago only to return to his position, will announce Wednesday afternoon that he is stepping down again.

Gator Updates says the announcement comes from the athletic department, and that Meyer also had some health issues after the Georgia game in late October.

Health issues were enough to convince Meyer he should step down a year ago, but after hearing names thrown around as his potential replacement (Bob Stoops anyone?), Urb apparently felt well enough to return to the job. He went 7-5 with Florida this season, his worst year on the job. For the first time he experienced a three-game losing streak at Florida, and a loss to rival Florida State.

The Gators have a bowl game on January 1st against Penn State and Meyer will coach the team. Gator Zone has more insight on the situation, saying Meyer approached athletic director Jeremy Foley to say he was contemplating resigning and the details were arranged Tuesday night. Foley also says the decision has to do with family:

“It was just time. He wants to spend more time with his family. He’s got daughters who play college volleyball; he’s got a son who is growing up. Urban loves his family. When all is said and done, he loves us, he loves the Gators, he loves football, he loves his players, but his world revolves around his family. I think more than anything else that was the impetus for this.’’

Stan Van Gundy understands what Meyer is going through. After all, he stepped down from the Miami Heat job in 2005 to spend time with his family only to coach the Magic in 2007. That must be it.

As for the speculation that Urban Meyer rejoins Tim Tebow with the Broncos in the NFL, it’s certainly a possibility. However, one piece of information making me think the two items aren’t linked is that Foley says Meyer approached him about resigning on Saturday, two days before the Broncos job became available. It’s certainly possible owner Pat Bowlen told Meyer’s representatives that McDaniels would be gone if the team lost and that’s why Meyer is stepping down, but the timeline is somewhat shaky.