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Ohio State AD Gene Smith denies report Urban Meyer expects to step down

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith on Friday denied a report that Urban Meyer doesn't expect to coach past the 2019 season and could hand his duties to offensive coordinator Ryan Day.

Football Scoop reported, citing anonymous sources, that Meyer has informed Smith that he expects to step down before the 2020 season. The website also reported that Day, a candidate for several head-coaching vacancies, will remain at Ohio State with a sizable salary raise an "unwritten understanding" that he likely would succeed Meyer as Buckeyes head coach.

"Have seen (the report) and been asked, no truth to it," Smith wrote in a text message to ESPN's Heather Dinich.