With Florida coach Urban Meyer's sudden resignation Saturday citing health concerns, USF coach Jim Leavitt said his thoughts are with a respected friend and colleague.

"My heart goes out to him. I think the world of him," Leavitt said. "My prayers go out to him, and I just hope all things are OK for him. He's a very good friend and someone that I think a lot of."

Leavitt and Meyer have faced each other twice -- first as assistants when Kansas State and Colorado State met in the 1995 Holiday Bowl, then as head coaches when USF and Bowling Green met in 2002.

Leavitt said that for all Meyer's success in winning two national championships with the Gators, fans should know what a great person Meyer is off the field. Leavitt sits on the board of the Children's Dream Fund in St. Petersburg and said last spring, even in the busy weeks after winning a national title, Meyer took time to speak at a charity event.

"He was really busy, but I gave him a call, and he dropped everything and came and spoke," Leavitt said. "We auctioned off seats at one of the Florida games, and it generated a lot of money for the cause. That's the kind of person he is."