SARASOTA, Fla. — Renowned College Football Hall of Famer, Urban Meyer, has been appointed to the board of trustees at New College, a small public liberal arts institution in Sarasota. This appointment comes as part of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s efforts to reshape the college, which he has turned into a focal point for his campaign against “woke” ideologies.

This week, Governor DeSantis introduced Meyer as a board member at New College, following a strategic takeover two years ago. At that time, the board was filled with DeSantis supporters and conservative figures, signaling a shift in the college’s direction.

Currently serving as a college football analyst for FOX Sports, Meyer boasts an impressive coaching legacy. He guided the University of Florida Gators to national championships in 2006 and 2008 and led Ohio State to a national title in 2014. Meyer also briefly coached the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.

Meyer’s appointment, which awaits confirmation by the state Senate, was revealed on Tuesday alongside the reappointment of two other trustees at New College.

Two years ago, DeSantis set his sights on the small institution, located along Sarasota Bay, as part of a broader effort to challenge what he perceives as “woke” ideologies. The governor and his supporters criticized New College, known for its progressive stance and vibrant LGBTQ+ community, for allegedly promoting leftist ideologies. They aim to transform it into a bastion of conservative education.

After DeSantis’ allies took control off the school’s board, they promptly fired the college president and replaced her with a Republican politician, the first of several administrators to lose their jobs. They also dismantled the office of diversity and equity. Students compared the changes to “a hostile takeover,” saying the governor was dismantling what had been a safe place for many LGBTQ+ students who felt marginalized at other schools.