Report: Urban Meyer Explored And Declined Arizona Job

ESPN broadcaster Urban Meyer stepped down from his position as head coach at the University of Florida in 2010. Since then he has been attached to nearly every high-profile coaching job that has become available.  Each time, Meyer has insisted that he's happy in his new role.  According to a report from Pete Thamel of the New York Times, though, Meyer's dalliance with the head coaching position at Arizona went beyond idle media speculation.

Thamel writes:

Urban Meyer met with Arizona’s athletic director, Greg Byrne, in Miami early last week to discuss the Wildcats’ job, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting, but ultimately decided he was not interested. The person said that Meyer, who has expressed his desire to return to coaching, was intrigued but informed Byrne in a telephone call Monday night that he was not going to pursue the job.

This report is in stark contrast to Meyer's reaction when he was linked to the position recently created by the ouster of Joe Paterno at Penn State last week. At that time Meyer released a statement reading, “I am very happy with my role at ESPN.  I have no plans to return to coaching at this time.”

Meyer coached Florida to victories in BCS National Championship games in 2006 and 2008.