Urban Meyer Position: Head Football Coach Birthdate: 07/10/1964 Experience: 2nd Year at BGSU

Urban Meyer has quickly established himself as one of the top young head coaches in the country. The native of Ashtabula, Ohio took over the BGSU program in December of 2000 and engineered the top turnaround in NCAA I-A football during the 2001 season.

His first squad finished with an 8-3 record and placed second in the MAC's East Division with a 4-2 ledger. The Falcons also became the first MAC school to post wins over three BCS conference schools in a regular season (Missouri, Temple, and Northwestern). In addition, BGSU knocked off two teams (Northwestern and Toledo) who were nationally ranked during the season and Brandon Hicks became the school’s first defensive All-American since 1984. In addition, the Falcons doubled their home attendance in 2001.

For his efforts, Meyer was named the consensus 2001 MAC Coach of the Year. In addition, following the win at Missouri, we was named national coach of the week by ESPN.com.

AN IMPRESSIVE BACKGROUND

Meyer came to BGSU after serving as receivers coach at Notre Dame. In 2000, Notre Dame ranked among the nation’s leaders in passing efficiency, committed the fewest turnovers in the nation and earned a BCS berth in the Fiesta Bowl. In addition, they boasted one of the top special teams units in the country, ranking third in kickoff returns, 10th in net punting and 12th in punt returns. The 1999 season saw Meyer’s receiving corps break the Irish single-season record for pass receptions with 192 and total receiving yards with 2,858.

During 1998, Meyer coached split end Malcolm Johnson, who ended his career with 110 receptions, the seventh-highest total in school history. Johnson is now with the New York Jets. The previous year, Meyer coached Johnson and fellow receiver Bobby Brown as they became the first Irish pair of players to record 40 or more receptions individually in a season. Brown made 45 catches and Johnson had 42. In addition, the Notre Dame receivers helped set a then-single-season school record with 190 receptions.

In 1996, he coached a youthful Irish receiving corps and helped integrate those players with veteran quarterback Ron Powlus to contribute to a Notre Dame attack that produced the third-highest figures for total offense and scoring in Irish history.

Prior to heading to Notre Dame, Meyer coached at Colorado State from 1990-95. He helped the Rams to the 1994 Western Athletic Conference title and to Holiday Bowl appearances following both the 1994 (10-2 final record) and 1995 seasons (8-4). Colorado State finished 16th in the final Associated Press poll in ’94.

In 1992, Meyer coached wide receiver Greg Primus, an All-WAC pick who finished as Colorado State's all-time leading receiver ending up with 192 career catches for 3,200 yards. That latter total ranked 10th on the NCAA's all-time yardage list. Meyer also helped Colorado State to the Freedom Bowl title following the 1990 season.

Meyer spent two seasons at Illinois State, coaching quarterbacks and receivers in 1989 and outside linebackers in 1988. He worked as receiver coach at Ohio State in 1987 and helped the Buckeyes to a Cotton Bowl win following the ’86 campaign when he coached tight ends.

MEYER’S MENTORS

Meyer has worked for a number of the top head coaches in the country including Earle Bruce, Lou Holtz, Sonny Lubick and Bob Davie.

HIS RESPONSIBILITIES

During his time at Notre Dame, Meyer had served as special teams coordinator and developed and installed the Irish passing game. In addition, he has heavily recruited in areas such as Ohio, Florida, south Georgia, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

A STRONG OHIO BACKGROUND

A 13th-round pick in the amateur baseball draft in 1982, Meyer played two years in the Atlanta Braves organization. He played as a defensive back at the University of Cincinnati before earning his degree in psychology in 1986. Meyer went on to earn a master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio State in 1988.

Meyer was born July 10, 1964. He and his wife, Shelley, are parents of two daughters, Nicole and Gigi, and a son, Nathan. Meyer is a native of Ashtabula, Ohio, where he graduated from St. John High School.