COLUMBUS, Ohio--Ohio State University football coach Urban Meyer, who until now has deemed it inappropriate to weigh in on politics, endorsed Ohio Gov. John Kasich for president on Thursday.

In a video, Meyer praised the Republican presidential candidate for "your friendship" and "the leadership that you've shown in the state of Ohio since we've been back, and even before."

"As a true supporter of what you stand for - now that I really know what you stand for - we'd like to tell you we wish you guys the best," Meyer said. "Go win this darn thing."

The endorsement may come as a surprise to supporters of GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, who told a crowd in Columbus earlier this month that "I don't know if he [Meyer] endorses me or not, but he's said awful nice things about me."

At the time, Meyer hadn't made any public statement in support of Trump or any other presidential candidate.

Asked last month for his thoughts on the election, Meyer said, "My job description is very clear and that's to coach Ohio State football and the focus is on 17 to 18 to 22-year-olds. I have strong beliefs, but I'm not going to share that with you guys. I don't think that's appropriate."

Since coming to Ohio State in 2012, Meyer has a 50-4 record, including one national championship. A 2015 poll found Meyer had an 85-percent approval rating in Ohio, compared with just 2 percent who disapproved of him.

Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, now the president of Youngstown State University, has also endorsed Kasich and plans to campaign with the governor in the days leading up to Ohio's March 15 primary.