Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer has informed the team that he will retire following the their Rose Bowl matchup against the Washington Huskies on January 1. OSU offensive coordinator Ryan Day will take over as head coach beginning January 2nd.
Meyer, who took over as Ohio State's head coach in 2012, will formally announce his decision at a 2 pm news conference in Columbus, Ohio alongside Day and athletic director Gene Smith, according to ESPN.
The 54-year old coach has dealt with health issues throughout his tenure, including the effects of an arachnoid cyst on his brain. He underwent brain surgery in 2014 to treat the issue, but the headaches have reportedly returned in recent seasons and it is one of the reasons why he is stepping down as head coach.
According to Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel, doctors warned Meyer about the long-term health risks if he continued to coach.
The Buckeyes went 12-1 this season, including a 45-24 victory over Northwestern to win the Big 10 title. OSU also dominated rival Michigan 62-39, as Meyer retires with an unblemished 7-0 mark against the Wolverines.
During his seven seasons in Columbus, the Buckeyes boasted an 82-9 record under Meyer, including a 54-4 record in regular season Big Ten play. They also won the 2014 National Championship, along with seven division titles (shared or outright) and three conference championships, according to ESPN.