Joey Meyer, who served as DePaul’s men’s basketball coach for 13 seasons and led the Blue Demons to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, has passed away.
He was 74.
The news was announced by the school on Friday night.
“Former DePaul men’s basketball head coach, Joey Meyer (’71), passed away late Friday afternoon at the age of 74, surrounded by his family,” the release on DePaulBlueDemons.com said. “Details regarding a public service will be announced at a later date.”
Meyer’s time at DePaul began as a player, playing under his father, Blue Demons legend Ray Meyer. The elder Meyer coached the Blue Demons from 1942-1984. After his playing career ended, Meyer became an assistant, working under his father from 1974-84. Following the 1983-84 season, Ray Meyer retired and Joey Meyer became the program’s head coach.
Meyer’s best teams at DePaul generally came early in his tenure. The Blue Demons reached the NCAA Tournament in each of Meyer’s first five seasons as head coach, making the Sweet 16 in both 1986 and 1987. After failing to reach the NCAA Tournament in 1990, Meyer led DePaul back in both 1991 and 1992. He remained with the Blue Demons through the 1996-97 season, finishing with an overall record of 231-158.
After leaving DePaul, Meyer remained in coaching. He was the inaugural coach of the NBA G-League team presently known as the Oklahoma City Blue. They began play in 2001 as the Asheville Altitude. Meyer led them to the D-League (as it was then known) championship in both 2004 and 2005. The following year, they became the Tulsa 66ers. Meyer continued to coach there through the 2007-08 season.
In 2009, he began coaching with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (now Indiana Mad Ants) and continued there until 2012.