PAGE 6
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL
Meyer to fill Ohio State job
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Urban Meyer said the concerned that caused him to step down at Florida are no longer a problem for him. At his introductory press conference as the new head coach at Ohio State in Columbus, Meyer said he feels healthy and has spent the past year learning how to maintain balance between work and family.
"Health-wise, I feel great. I had a scare a couple years ago," he said. "Made me sit back, reflect. I didn't feel right. But I feel fantastic now." Meyer resigned on Dec. 8, citing a desire to spend more time with his family as the reason.
His health had been a concern with his first resignation at Florida, in Dec. 2009, and Meyer said that was a reason in the weeks and months following the end of his time at Florida.
Meyer said the Ohio State job is the only one he would have accepted for 2012.
"My six years in Florida, Florida was my dream job," he said. "As far back as I can remember, other than those 60 minutes in Glendale, I've always followed the Buckeyes."
He signed a six-year contract that will pay him $4 million annually, with the opportunity for academic and performance bonuses.
VOLLEYBALL
Two volleyball players receive recognition
The Kansas volleyball team's departing star senior received one final accolade on Monday. Her standout sophomore teammate received two.
Senior outside hitter Allison Mayfield and sophomore middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc were both given honorable mentions on the All-Big 12 Conference Team, and Jarmoc collected her second Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award.
Mayfield broke the Kansas single-season kill records in the final game of her career on Saturday against Baylor, setting the new benchmark at 462.
It marks the first time since 2003 that the Jayhawks (15-14, 3-13) have landed two spots on the squad.
Jarmor finished her season second in the big 12 with 1.25 blocks per set. She led the way defensively for the Jayhawks against Baylor, notching five blocks.
Matt Galloway
MEN'S BASKETBALL
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2011
Robinson named Big 12 Player of the Week
Junior forward Thomas Robinson was named the Big 12 Player of the Week. Kansas Athletics announced Monday. "It's definitely a great honor," Robinson said. "But I don't plan for this to be my only one."
In last week's action at the Maui Invitational, Robinson was named to the
All-Tournament team after averaging 17.0 points and 12.3 rebounds in the victories over Georgetown and UCLA and the loss to No. 6 Duke in the championship game.
Robinson was named a preseason First-Team All-American by CBS Sports. com last month and has recorded a double-double in each of his five games this season.
- Kory Carpenter
COACHES FROM PAGE 1
MANNY DIAZ
Previous head coaching experience:
None
Age:37
Bio: Diaz is in his first season as the defensive coordinator at Texas after spending the previous season as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. He turned the Bulldogs to the 71 ranked defense in scoring to the
Diaz
from the 71st ranked defense in scoring to the
21st ranked defense in his one season. This year he has the Longhorn defense ranked ninth in the nation in total defense. As long as Diaz remains at Texas, he will be a hot name to fill coaching vacancies, but with only two years as a defensive coordinator at a BCS school, athletics director Shealon Zenger might want a bigger name with more experience to try to turn the Jayhawks around.
JIM TRESSEL
Age:58
Previous head coaching experience:
Youngstown State 1986-2000, Ohio State 2001-2010
(229-79-2 in 24 seasons)
Nutt
taking over at Ole Miss. Unable to recruit the same level of talent that existed when he came to the Running Rebels, Nutt had led his team teams from winning back-to-back Cotton Bowls to a 2-10 season that led to his resignation at the request of the administration.
Bio: Tressel was a three-time American College Football Association Coach of the Year at the Ohio State University, where he reached three BCS championship games with the Buckeyes and won all in 2002. Tressel resigned from OSU in May during the NCAA investigation of impermissible benefits for his players and currently serves as a consultant for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. If he were to make the jump back to college football it would come with impending NCAA sanctions that could scare off potential suitors, such as Kansas. If he does return to collegiate football, Lawrence would be a soft landing spot, and Jayhawk Nation would, without doubt, celebrate him.
Age: 54
HOUSTON NUTT
Previous head coaching experience: Murray State 1993-1996, Roise State 1997, Arkansas 1998-2007, Ole Miss 2008-2011 (135-95 in 19 seasons).
Bio: Nutt has the big-time experience needed to make fans excited; he led Arkansas to three SEC west division titles in his 10 years in Fayetteville, Ark. But Nutt has been on a downhill slide since
Tressel
JUNE JONES
Age: 58
Previous head coaching experience: NFL Atlanta Falcons 1994-1996, NFL San Diego Chargers 1998, University of Hawaii 1999-2007, Southern Methodist University 2008-Present (NFL 22-36, College 99-69)
Bio: Jones inherited a losing streak of 18 games when he took over Hawaii, but he quickly turned the program around with a 9-4 finish in his first
Jones
season. After manufacturing what has been called by some as the biggest program turnaround in NCAA history, Jones left the islands in 2008 to take on the same task with SMU. Repairing broken programs is nothing new for Jones, which is what could make him a target for Zenger. Jones has not yet achieved the same success with SMU as he did at Hawaii, leaving questions surrounding his coaching style in tougher conferences.
FOOTBALL
Gill thanks players, fans
Former coach Turner Gill released a statement this morning expressing gratitude to the players and school.
"I would like to thank the University of Kansas for the opportunity to be its head football coach," Gill said. "On behalf of our staff, I want to thank the players for putting their heart and soul into this football program the last two years. I hope nothing but the best for all
The statement came after interim coach Reggie Mitchell held a teleconference discussing Gill's firing and the future of Kansas football.
their future endeavors, both on and off the field."
Mitchell, formerly the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, put a timetable on the search for the next head coach.
"There's going to be a head coach hired within the next 10 to 15 days."
Mitchell said.
As for recruiting, Mitchell said that wide receivers coach David Beatty and defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt would join him on the road recruiting.
He said no players had decommitted or opened up their recruitment and that the coaches will be in the homes of the incoming players within 24 hours.
Mitchell said the current players understand that coaches have to win games in order to stay and be successful. While he did say that Kansas' coaches were disappointed, he said that they understand what is going on.
"We came here to do a job and we would love to be able to do it with coach Gill," Mitchell said. "Now that's not possible, so we just have to be professional and keep moving forward."