Urban Meyer to Join Ohio State in Six-Year Deal

After weeks of speculation and rumors, Ohio State announced Monday that Urban Meyer will be the university’s next head football coach.

He’s set to start at the conclusion of the 2011 season.

The current head coach, Luke Fickell, who replaced Jim Tressel this summer, will coach for the Buckeyes’ bowl game and will be retained on Meyer’s staff, Ohio State reported.

While the official contract with Meyer has yet to be signed, Ohio State released the terms of employment. They detail the specifics of Meyer’s six-year, $24 million agreement.

“It’s good to be home,’ said Meyer, an Ohio native, as he addressed the media Monday evening at an introductory press conference.

Over the past several months, Penn State and Ohio State had been locked in an unofficial battle over the future of one of college football’s hottest coaches, published reports suggest.

Penn State announced earlier Monday that a search committee has been formed to find a new head coach for the Nittany Lions.

Here are a few points from Urban Meyer’s planned Ohio State deal:

• For remaining at Ohio State, Meyer would receive a bonus of $450,000 in 2014, a bonus of $750,000 in 2016 and a bonus of $1.2 million in 2018.

• For winning the championship in the Big Ten’s Leaders Division, Meyer would receive a bonus of $50,000.

• Ohio State will pay Meyer $1,200 a month for car expenses.

• Meyer will have the right to use a private jet 35 hours a year for personal travel.

Other coverage

• StateCollege.com’s Penn State football page

• StateCollege.com’s ongoing coverage of the Penn State-charges situation