The rumored deliberation to replace Doug Marrone as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars has come to a close as three-time NCAA Championship-winning head coach Urban Meyer is stepping up to take that mantle. One of the most successful coaches in college football history, Meyer was named head coach of the Jacksonville, Florida-based NFL franchise this past Thursday by way of an official announcement from Jaguars owner Shad Khan.
A Promising Past for a Successful Future
Meyer, 56, has an extensive college football coaching resume, boasting successful tenures at Ohio State, Florida, Bowling Green, and Utah. Meyer went 187-32 as a collegiate coach, leading Florida to national titles in the 2006 and 2008 seasons and Ohio State to a national title following the 2014 season. He went 17-6 at Bowling Green (2001-2002), 22-2 at Utah (2003-2004), 65-15 at Florida (2005-2010) and 83-9 at Ohio State (2012-2018). Prior to his head coach appointment, he had weighed a possible jump to NFL coaching and was offered a coaching position with the University of Texas.
A New Chapter for the Jaguars
The replacement follows a series of disappointing Jaguar losses this season under Marrone’s guidance. The team states that Marrone was a good coach who had been doing his best with a younger roster and committed to letting him finish the season out. But the Jaguars have now lost 14 games in a row, dropping Marrone’s record to 23-42 spanning five seasons and ensuring the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming April draft. An advantage that likely weighed heavily on Meyer’s decision to lead the Jaguars.
Joining the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Coaching Legacy
Meyer is now the sixth permanent head coach in the Jaguars’ 27 total seasons. Tom Coughlin was head coach from 1995-2002, with Jack Del Rio holding the position from 2003-2011. Mike Mularkey led the team in 2012, Gus Bradley from 2013-2016, and Marrone from 2017-2020.
Wishing Success to a Partner With New Leadership
As an established partner in the IOA Sports Partners program, Insurance Offices of America (IOA) is proud to stand behind the Jacksonville Jaguars’ decision and wish them and coach Meyer great success in their upcoming season.
IOA Sports Partners was established by IOA co-founder John Ritenour for comprehensive business-to-business solutions for teams, leagues, entertainment venues, municipalities, and the general business community. Current IOA chairman and CEO Heath Ritenour continue the legacy started by his father by expanding IOA’s sports partnerships with other leagues such as the Orlando Magic, Orlando City, Southland Conference, and US Club Soccer, among others.