Former DePaul Men’s Basketball Coach, Joey Meyer, Passes Away at 74
Joey Meyer, the renowned former coach of the DePaul men’s basketball team, has sadly passed away at the age of 74 in suburban Hinsdale, Ill. Meyer took over the program from his legendary father, Ray Meyer. The cause of his death has been kept private at the request of his family. Details about a public service will be announced at a later time.
Born on April 2, 1949, Joseph E. Meyer played for his father at DePaul before becoming his successor as coach of the Blue Demons from 1984 to 1997. During his tenure, Meyer achieved a record of 231-158 and led the team to seven NCAA tournament appearances. Notably, he guided the Blue Demons to back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in his second and third seasons. With 231 wins, Meyer holds the second-most victories in program history, following in the footsteps of his father Ray, who amassed 724 wins in 42 seasons.
The highlight of Joey Meyer’s coaching career came during the 1986-87 season when his team, led by senior forward Dallas Comegys and sophomore point guard Rod Strickland, achieved a remarkable regular season record of 28-3. Although they were not affiliated with a conference at the time, the Blue Demons made it to the Midwest regional semifinal in the NCAA tournament before losing to LSU. Meyer’s exceptional coaching performance earned him the title of Chevrolet Coach of the Year that season.
However, ten years later, DePaul faced a significant decline in performance as they went 3-23 while playing in Conference USA. As a result, Meyer was fired, although the school officially labeled it as a resignation.
Reflecting on his departure, Meyer expressed his lack of preparedness for the moment during a press conference. He had spent a total of 30 consecutive years playing and working at DePaul, continuing the legacy of the Meyer family’s coaching dynasty. Between his father and himself, a Meyer had coached the DePaul men’s basketball team for an impressive 55 consecutive years. In 1979, Joey served as an assistant under his father when DePaul faced a defeat against Larry Bird’s Indiana State team in the Final Four.
Meyer’s basketball journey began as a star player in the Chicago Catholic League during the 1960s. He went on to score 1,233 points for his father’s renowned DePaul program before graduating in 1971, making him the fourth-leading scorer in program history at the time. Following his playing career, Meyer became an assistant coach for his father in 1974 and eventually took over as head coach when Ray Meyer retired after the 1983-84 season. Ray Meyer, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, passed away in 2006 at the age of 92.
After his time at DePaul, Joey Meyer transitioned to coaching in the NBA Developmental League (now known as the G League), where he achieved great success with 226 wins and two championships. He later worked as a basketball analyst for WGN radio and served as a regional scout for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Joey Meyer’s contributions to the world of basketball will always be remembered. His passing marks the end of an era for DePaul and the Meyer family, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the sport.
(Photo: Mitchell Layton / Getty Images)