A health scare -- and more family time -- prompted Urban Meyer to walk away from Florida in 2010 and into what turned out to be a brief coaching sabbatical. A little over three years later, the current Ohio State head coach is once again facing a medical issue, although this time around it’s not something serious enough to again push him to the sidelines.
OSU confirmed Monday night that Meyer underwent a minor medical procedure at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center over the weekend. The procedure involved the removal of fluid from a congenital arachnoid cyst.
Meyer has been dealing with that particular condition since he was an assistant at Notre Dame late last century and it was the source of headaches the coach has been dealing with of late.
The Buckeyes are scheduled to begin spring practice Tuesday. According to the school, Meyer’s coaching duties will not be limited and he’ll be on the field from the start.
Meyer stunned the college football world by stepping down as the Gators head coach in December of 2009 shortly after experiencing a health scare. Meyer’s “retirement” turned into a brief leave of absence, but he once again stepped down following the 2010 season.
At the press conference announcing his second, and final, departure, Meyer stated that “it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field.” It was subsequently reported that Meyer had been dealing with heart issues, although the coach himself would only allow that the health concern was esophageal spasms.