Source: Meyers quit for health
Urban Meyer is walking away from his job as Florida football coach because of health concerns, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Urban Meyer is walking away from his job as Florida football coach because of health concerns, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Meyer, 46, has a recurring burning sensation in his chest that doctors told him last week would raise cardiovascular risk factors if he continued to coach, the person told the Associated Press yesterday on condition of anonymity because Meyer's health issues are confidential.
Meyer announced his resignation Wednesday and said health was not the reason he was walking away. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
The person with knowledge of Meyer's health said the coach can resolve his chest pain with "constant monitoring," which he already has started doing.
Meyer first resigned Dec. 27, 2009, 3 weeks after he was rushed to a hospital because of chest pain. He changed his mind the following day and instead decided to take a leave of absence. He scaled back some, but changed little about his work habits once the season began.
Meyer hasn't ruled out coaching again. His future likely will be tied to his health. Meyer was diagnosed with esophageal spasms in January and began taking medicine to treat them.
The person with knowledge of Meyer's health said the spasms have been under control, but other symptoms have lingered. Those prompted Meyer to talk with doctors and family members, and then he decided that continuing to coach at his current pace would be too risky.
Meyer will coach his final game in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1 against Penn State, but he intends to remain in Gainesville and continue to work in the athletic department.
Florida hired Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp to succeed Meyer on Saturday.
Golf
* Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter won the Shark Shootout, shooting a 13-under 59 in the scramble format to beat Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell by two shots in Naples, Fla. Johnson and Poulter finished at 30-under 186. Clarke and McDowell (59) never came closer than two strokes. The 12 teams played modified alternate shot in the first round and better ball in the second. Johnson and Poulter split $750,000.
* Australia's Peter Senior won the Australian PGA, beating Geoff Ogilvy with a par on the second hole of a playoff.
* Pablo Martin survived a triple bogey to defend his Alfred Dunhill Championship title with a 2-under 70 for a two-shot victory in Malelane, South Africa.
* Aree Song, of South Korea, won the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament by two strokes with a 6-under 354 in the five-round event in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Winter Sports
* Tessa Worley, of France, won women's World Cup giant slalom in St. Moritz, Switzerland, for her second straight win. Lindsey Vonn placed seventh.
* Shani Davis finally lost at 1,000 meters in the speedskating World Cup, ending his 15-race winning streak. Samuel Schwarz won the event in 1 minute, 9.98 seconds, edging Davis by 0.17 of a second in Obihiro, Japan. Heather Richardson earned her second straight victory in the women's 1,000.
Sport Stops
* The St. Louis Cardinals traded infielder Brendan Ryan to Seattle for minor league righthander Maikel Cleto.
* Scott Caldwell's goal gave Akron a 1-0 win over top-ranked Louisville in the NCAA Division I men's soccer final in Santa Barbara, Calif.