Florida Coach to Take Leave of Absence

Head coach of the Florida Gators college football program, Urban Meyer, shocked the college football world over the weekend when he unveiled on Saturday that he was stepping down as a result of ongoing health problems. However, Meyer has experienced a change of heart and decided to take an indefinite leave of absence as opposed to resigning from his position. According to The Los Angeles Times, Meyer cited a spirited Sunday morning team practice as the underlying factor behind his decision.

Florida’s head coach revealed his change of heart during a Sugar Bowl press conference that was held on Sunday where he addressed the media but refused to elaborate on the specific health condition he has been enduring. Meyer, who was admitted to a Gainesville, Florida hospital after his team’s loss in the S.E.C. Championship Game on December 5th, clarified that he has been experiencing chest pains for more than two years but denied rumors that he had suffered a heart attack.

Meyer announced that he expects to be on the sideline coaching his team at the start of the 2010 season. Jeremy Foley, the athletic director at the University of Florida, played a role in persuading Meyer to take a leave of absence rather than resigning and he revealed to the media that measures will be taken to ease the coach’s workload when he returns.