COACH RAY MEYER :: Armed with a fierce desire to win and an ability to motivate and develop young men, Ray Meyer was a coaching institution at DePaul University in Chicago.
Through 42 seasons, Meyer compiled a 724-354 record (sixth all-time) while guiding the Blue Demons to 21 post-season appearances (13 NCAA, 8 NIT). In total, Meyer recorded 37 winning seasons and twelve 20-win seasons, including seven straight from 1978 to 1984. Two Meyer-coached teams reached the Final Four (1943 and 1979), and in 1945, Meyer led DePaul past Bowling Green to capture the National Invitation Tournament, the school’s only post season title. A man of great integrity, Meyer was named Coach of the Year four times during his career. With players like Hall of Famer George Mikan and NBA stars Mark Aguirre and Terry Cummings, Meyer’s teams displayed astounding consistency.
For 42 years, Meyer built DePaul basketball into a nationally recognized program, and upon retiring after the 1983-84 season, passed the reigns to long time assistant coach, son Joey. Aside from coaching DePaul, Meyer coached a College All-Star team that played a coast-to-coast series against the Harlem Globetrotters for 11 years. A former basketball captain under Hall of Famer George Keogan at Notre Dame, Meyer played in a rare 20-20 tie against Northwestern on Dec. 31, 1935.
Coach Meyer was laid to rest 21 March 06 and the band was honored to be there for him and his family.
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