Ohio State lands Meyer for 6 years, $24m

Urban Meyer is the next head coach at Ohio State after all.

After denying reports linking him to the position last week, Meyer signed a six-year contract worth at least $24 million to coach at his alma mater.

Ohio State made the announcement Monday afternoon before introducing him at a press conference.

Meyer stepped down as head coach at Florida last December, citing health concerns. He spent six seasons in Gainesville and led the Gators to a record of 64-15 with a pair of national championships.

Luke Fickell had been in charge of the Buckeyes program on an interim basis since June after Jim Tressel resigned in the wake of a scandal involving his supposed knowledge of players selling items and memorabilia.

Fickell guided the Buckeyes to a record of 6-6 this season, including a loss to arch-rival Michigan this past Saturday.

According to last week's report, Fickell will remain as an assistant under Meyer.

Meyer, who led Florida to national championships in 2006 and 2008, started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio State in 1986.

The 47-year-old Ohio native is a three-time national coach of the year with an overall record of 104-23. He took his first head coaching job at Bowling Green in 2001 and posted a record of 17-6 in two seasons with the Falcons before moving on to Utah, where he guided the Utes to a mark of 22-2 in two seasons. Meyer closed out his stint in Salt Lake City with 16 consecutive wins.

In addition to his start at Ohio State, Meyer was also an assistant at Illinois State, Colorado State and Notre Dame.