Meyer named Sporting News’ coach of the decade

Posted Sep 24, 2009 by TBO.com

Updated Sep 24, 2009 at 08:28 PM

With two national titles in the last three years, Florida coach Urban Meyer was named the coach of the decade by The Sporting News, announced on Thursday.
 
The award is part of a 14-page tribute to the athletes, coaches and teams of the 2000s in the newest issue of the publication.
 
Gators quarterback Tim Tebow says of Meyer, who has gone 86-17 while coaching Bowling Green, Utah and Florida in the past decade: “It goes way beyond what he does as a coach and how he wins championships. The real key is how he relates to people, how he reaches players and convinces them to want to, to need to, perform at their highest level. Guys aren’t afraid to compete here, to rise to performing at the highest level. To expect it. When players expect it, they start to demand it of themselves and their teammates. That’s how you become a team, how championships are won.’‘
 
Former USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who went 37-2 as a starter and won or shared two national championships, is Sporting News’ college football player of the decade, edging out Tebow.
-DAVID JONES, Florida Today