Joey Meyer: A Basketball Legend

On this blog, you’ll read about the life and times of Joey Meyer, one of the most prolific basketball players of all time. From his early days on the court to his current work as a coach, Joey Meyer has left a lasting legacy on the sport of basketball.

Introduction

Joey Meyer is one of the most successful Basketball Coaches in the history of the game. He began his college coaching career at the University of Evansville where he led the Purple Aces to four NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament appearances. He then went on to coach at DePaul University for 17 seasons. At DePaul, Meyer compiled a record of 400-234, making him the winningest coach in Blue Demons’ history. He led DePaul to 11 postseason appearances, including seven NCAA tournament berths and four trips to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

Early Life and Career

Joey Meyer was born on January 30, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the third child of John and Ann Meyer. Joey’s older sister, Barbara, was born with special needs and requires continuous care. His older brother, Johnny, is a successful attorney. Growing up, Joey was always big for his age. When he started kindergarten, he was already four feet tall and weighed more than 80 pounds. His size made him a natural for basketball. By the time he was in High School he had grown to 6’9″.

Meyer began his college basketball career at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As a freshman, he averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game He improved his statistics as a sophomore, averaging 18 points and nine rebounds per game As a junior, he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was named an All-American as a senior after averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds per game. He finished his college career with 2,185 points (an average of 19 points per game) and 1,216 rebounds (an average of 10 per game).

After college, Meyer played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for two years. In 1987, he became the Head Coach of the Sioux Falls Skyforce, a team in the CBA. He coached the team for three seasons before moving on to coached DePaul University from 1990 to 1997.

The University of Houston

Joey Meyer is a basketball legend He played for the University of Houston from 1983 to 1987, and was a part of the famous “Phi Slama Jama” team. After his college career, Meyer played professionally in Europe for several years before returning to the U.S. to coach. He is currently the head coach of the University of Houston’s women’s basketball team

The Professional Career

Joey Meyer is a former American basketball coach He was the head men’s basketball coach at DePaul University from 1984 to 1997. During his tenure at DePaul, Meyer compiled a record of 273 wins and 139 losses. Myers led the Depaul Blue Demons to six NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament appearances, including two Sweet Sixteen appearances in 1989 and 1994. He was fired from DePaul in 1997 after the Blue Demons failed to make the NCAA Tournament for three consecutive seasons.

The Legacy

Joey Meyer is a well-known former basketball coach who led the DePaul men’s Basketball team for 21 seasons. Meyer is considered one of the most successful coaches in DePaul history, leading the team to 11 NCAA tournament appearances, including five Sweet Sixteen appearances and one Elite Eight appearance. Meyer’s teams also won six regular season conference championships and four conference tournament championships. Upon his retirement in 1997, Meyer was the winningest coach in DePaul history with a record of 433-304.

The End of an Era

Joey Meyer, who led the DePaul Blue Demons to the greatest Basketball season in school history, has announced his retirement from coaching.

Meyer, who compiled a record of 87-74 in five seasons at DePaul, guided the Blue Demons to a 24-8 record this past season, which included a share of the conference regular season title and a berth in the NCAA tournament

“It has been an honor and a privilege to coach at DePaul University,” Meyer said at a press conference announcing his retirement. “I want to thank all of the players, assistant coaches and support staff who have been part of our program. I will always cherish the memories we have made together.”

Meyer, who is 64 years old, said he plans to spend more time with his family and will remain involved with the game of basketball as an analyst for ESPN.

The Final Years

Joey’s final years were laced with injuries, poor coaching, and a general decline in skill.

The Aftermath

After his incredible college career, Joey Meyer was drafted by the San Diego Clippers in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft He played three seasons for the Clippers, averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. His best season came in 1988-89, when he averaged 14.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 1990 and played one season for them before being released.

Meyer then had a brief stint with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the Continental Basketball Association before retiring from playing in 1992. He returned to DePaul as an Assistant Coach in 1993 and served in that role for four seasons. In 1997, he was promoted to Head Coach a position he held for 11 seasons. During his time as Head coach Meyer led DePaul to six NCAA tournament appearances and one NIT appearance. He retired from coaching in 2008 with a career record of 248-206.

The Joey Meyer Story

Meyer was born in 1952 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and played collegiately for the University of Notre Dame As a 6’10” center, he was known for his physical style of play, which earned him the nickname “The Rock.” He helped lead the Irish to the NCAA championship game in 1974, where they lost to North Carolina State

Meyer began his coaching career as an assistant at Notre Dame under Digger Phelps. In 1984, he took over as head coach of the DePaul Blue Demons a position he would hold for the next 11 seasons. During that time, he led the team to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including five consecutive berths from 1986 to 1990. His best season came in 1987-88, when the Blue Demons went 27-4 and advanced to the Elite Eight.

Meyer’s success at DePaul made him a hot commodity in the coaching ranks, and he was tabbed to take over as head coach of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks in 1992. He lasted just one season with the Bucks, posting a disappointing 29-53 record. He then returned to college coaching, serving as an assistant at Arizona State University for one year before taking over as head coach at Pepperdine University in 1994.

Meyer coached the Waves for four seasons before retiring from coaching in 1998. He currently serves as a television analyst for Notre Dame basketball games

Conclusion

Joey Meyer will always be remembered as one of DePaul’s greatest Basketball coaches His accomplishments on and off the court have made him a legend. He has helped shape DePaul into the great university it is today and will continue to be an inspiration to all who know him.