GAINESVILLE, FLA. ? Florida is getting its first choice this time.

Turned down by Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan three years ago before settling on Ron Zook, the Gators lured Utah coach Urban Meyer away from his “dream job” Friday.

Meyer snubbed Notre Dame, where he worked as the receivers coach for five years, and agreed to coach the Gators, according to his sister, Gigi Escoe.

Asked whether her younger brother had taken the Florida job, she said, “Yes. It was a tough choice for him, but he’s happy with his decision. He had two wonderful choices. He couldn’t go wrong.”

Meyer signed a seven-year deal worth $14 million, according to The Gainesville Sun.

His wide-open offense should be welcomed at Florida, where Zook never could satisfy fans who became accustomed to Steve Spurrier’s innovative system that was fun to watch and tough to stop.

Meyer will quadruple his $500,000 salary and inherit a program with plenty of talent; the Gators finished 7-4, with three losses coming in the waning minutes.

Why he chose Florida over Notre Dame was unknown.

“He didn’t question his decision at all,” Escoe said.

Officials at Florida refused to confirm the reports and said there were no immediate plans for a news conference. But Meyer’s father, Bud, said his son had accepted the job.