Joey Meyer (basketball coach)
Encyclopedia
Joey Meyer is an American professional basketball coach
and former men's college basketball coach. He is currently the head coach
of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants
, the Indiana Pacers
' affiliate in the NBA Development League
. He is currently the circuit's all-time victories leader. He was previously the head basketball coach of the DePaul Blue Demons
from 1984 to 1997.
DePaul Blue Demons
Joey Meyer was an assistant coach at DePaul for eleven seasons under his father, Ray Meyer
. Ray Meyer coached DePaul from 1942 to 1984, winning 724 games and leading the Blue Demons to winning records in 37 of his 42 seasons., including seven NCAA men's basketball tournament
appearances in his last nine seasons. When Ray Meyer retired in 1984, Joey Meyer was promoted to head coach.
Joey Meyer led DePaul to seven NCAA Tournament appearances in his first eight seasons, including back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances in his second and third seasons. In the 1986 tournament
, #12-seeded DePaul -- led by freshman guard Rod Strickland
(14.1 ppg season average) and junior Dallas Comegys
(13.8 ppg) -- upset #5-seeded Virginia
and #4-seeded Oklahoma
in the East regional before losing to top-seeded Duke
74-67. In 1987, the Blue Demons -- again led by Comegys (17.5 ppg) and Strickland (16.3 ppg) -- finished the regular season 26-2 and received a #3 seed in the Midwest regional of the 1987 tournament
. They defeated #14-seeded Louisiana Tech
and #6-seeded St. John's
before losing to #10-seeded LSU. Meyer was honored as the Chevrolet Coach of the Year in 1987.
In both 1988
and 1989
, DePaul reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, but they were on a downward trajectory. In 1992, the Blue Demons were co-champions of the newly formed Great Midwest Conference
but made their last NCAA tournament
appearance under Meyer. In 1996, they finished 11-18, their first losing season since 1971, and the next year, a young DePaul team finished 3-23. Besides seven NCAA tournament appearances, Meyer led the Blue Demons to three appearances in the National Invitation Tournament
.
of the American Basketball Association, leading them to a 29-11 record and the Western Conference championship in 2000-01
. The Skyliners lost the championship game to the Detroit Dogs
107-91.
with the Asheville Altitude
, winning back-to-back league championships in 2004 and 2005. After the franchise
moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma
following its second title, Meyer continued to coach the team through the 2007-08 campaign. In 2009, he was hired as head coach of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants
and is under contract with them through the 2011-12 season.
His son Brian is a National Basketball Association (NBA)
scout
with the Chicago Bulls
.
Coach (basketball)
Basketball coaching is the act of directing and strategizing the behaviour of a basketball team or individual basketball player. Basketball coaching typically encompasses the improvement of individual and team offensive and defensive skills, as well as overall physical conditioning.Coaching is...
and former men's college basketball coach. He is currently the head coach
Coach (basketball)
Basketball coaching is the act of directing and strategizing the behaviour of a basketball team or individual basketball player. Basketball coaching typically encompasses the improvement of individual and team offensive and defensive skills, as well as overall physical conditioning.Coaching is...
of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Fort Wayne Mad Ants
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are a team of the NBA Development League, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is the home venue for the team. The team is the first minor league basketball franchise to play in Fort Wayne since the Fort Wayne Fury...
, the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
' affiliate in the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. He is currently the circuit's all-time victories leader. He was previously the head basketball coach of the DePaul Blue Demons
DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball
The DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois...
from 1984 to 1997.
DePaul Blue DemonsDePaul Blue Demons men's basketballThe DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois...
Joey Meyer was an assistant coach at DePaul for eleven seasons under his father, Ray MeyerRay Meyer
Raymond Joseph Meyer was an American men's collegiate basketball coach from Chicago, Illinois. He was well-known for coaching at DePaul University from 1942 to 1984, compiling a 724–354 record...
. Ray Meyer coached DePaul from 1942 to 1984, winning 724 games and leading the Blue Demons to winning records in 37 of his 42 seasons., including seven NCAA men's basketball tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearances in his last nine seasons. When Ray Meyer retired in 1984, Joey Meyer was promoted to head coach.
Joey Meyer led DePaul to seven NCAA Tournament appearances in his first eight seasons, including back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances in his second and third seasons. In the 1986 tournament
1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas...
, #12-seeded DePaul -- led by freshman guard Rod Strickland
Rod Strickland
Rodney "Rod" Strickland is a retired American professional basketball player and currently in an administrative role for the University of Kentucky basketball team under head coach John Calipari. Strickland was formerly the director of basketball operations at the University of Memphis...
(14.1 ppg season average) and junior Dallas Comegys
Dallas Comegys
Dallas Alonzo Comegys is an American former professional basketball player.- Professional career :Comegys was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 21st overall pick of the 1987 NBA Draft...
(13.8 ppg) -- upset #5-seeded Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball
The Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball program represents the University of Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA's Division I. The team is coached by Tony Bennett.-Statistics:-Retired numbers:-Retired jerseys:...
and #4-seeded Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball
-1908-1980:The Sooners enjoyed moderate success on the court during this era, posting only 16 losing records in their first 72 seasons. They were coached by 9 different coaches during this period, beginning with Bennie Owen , and ending with Dave Bliss in 1980...
in the East regional before losing to top-seeded Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
74-67. In 1987, the Blue Demons -- again led by Comegys (17.5 ppg) and Strickland (16.3 ppg) -- finished the regular season 26-2 and received a #3 seed in the Midwest regional of the 1987 tournament
1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
. They defeated #14-seeded Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball program represents intercollegiate men's basketball at Louisiana Tech University. The school competes in the Western Athletic Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play home games at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston,...
and #6-seeded St. John's
St. John's Red Storm men's basketball
The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents the St. John's University in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference. The men’s coach Norm Roberts was fired on March 19, 2010...
before losing to #10-seeded LSU. Meyer was honored as the Chevrolet Coach of the Year in 1987.
In both 1988
1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri...
and 1989
1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington...
, DePaul reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, but they were on a downward trajectory. In 1992, the Blue Demons were co-champions of the newly formed Great Midwest Conference
Great Midwest Conference
The Great Midwest Conference was an NCAA Division I athletics conference which existed from 1991 to 1995.It was formed in 1990 with six members--Cincinnati and Memphis State from the Metro Conference; UAB from the Sun Belt Conference; Marquette and Saint Louis from the Midwestern Collegiate...
but made their last NCAA tournament
1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 19, 1992, and ended with the championship game on April 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
appearance under Meyer. In 1996, they finished 11-18, their first losing season since 1971, and the next year, a young DePaul team finished 3-23. Besides seven NCAA tournament appearances, Meyer led the Blue Demons to three appearances in the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
.
American Basketball Association
Meyer began his professional basketball head coaching career with the Chicago SkylinersLas Vegas Rattlers
The Las Vegas Rattlers were an American Basketball Association team based in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.- 2000-2001: Chicago Skyliners :The Chicago Skyliners were one of the charter franchises of the American Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois. The team began play in the fall of...
of the American Basketball Association, leading them to a 29-11 record and the Western Conference championship in 2000-01
2000–01 ABA season
The 2000-2001 ABA season was the first season of the new American Basketball Association. The season lasted from November 2000 to the championship game in March 2001 featuring the top seeded Chicago Skyliners and the fourth-seeded Detroit Dogs. Detroit defeated Chicago, 107-91 in the 2001 ABA...
. The Skyliners lost the championship game to the Detroit Dogs
Detroit Panthers (PBL)
The Detroit Panthers are an American minor-league basketball team in the Premier Basketball League. Formerly a member of the American Basketball Association, the team was previously known as the Detroit Dogs and the Detroit Wheels...
107-91.
NBA Development League
In 2001, he joined the NBA D-LeagueNBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
with the Asheville Altitude
Tulsa 66ers
The Tulsa 66ers are an NBA Development League team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the minor league affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their logo design is a basketball behind mountains with a road leading up to them, all on a U.S...
, winning back-to-back league championships in 2004 and 2005. After the franchise
Professional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
following its second title, Meyer continued to coach the team through the 2007-08 campaign. In 2009, he was hired as head coach of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Fort Wayne Mad Ants
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are a team of the NBA Development League, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is the home venue for the team. The team is the first minor league basketball franchise to play in Fort Wayne since the Fort Wayne Fury...
and is under contract with them through the 2011-12 season.
His son Brian is a National Basketball Association (NBA)
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
.