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| Joey Meyer | |
|---|---|
| Name | Joey Meyer |
| Birth date | March 31, 1949 |
| Birth place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater | NC State (B.A.), UW–Milwaukee (M.S.) |
| Occupation | Basketball coach |
| Years active | 1973–2017 |
Joey Meyer was an American college and professional basketball coach best known for leading the DePaul University men's basketball program during the 1980s and early 1990s and for later coaching in the National Basketball Association and the Continental Basketball Association. He compiled significant wins at the collegiate level, developed multiple future NBA players, and coached in both domestic and international leagues. His career intersected with major programs, tournaments, and conferences, leaving a complex legacy in college basketball and minor-professional circuits.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Meyer attended local schools in the Chicago metropolitan area before enrolling at NC State, where he played under program staff during the early 1970s. He later completed graduate studies at UW–Milwaukee, earning a master's degree that prepared him for a career in collegiate athletics administration and coaching. His formative years in Chicago placed him among a generation influenced by regional high school powerhouses and the evolving landscape of NCAA Division I programs.
Meyer’s playing career was primarily at the collegiate level, where he competed in ACC-adjacent programs and local Midwest competition. While not achieving national prominence as a player, he gained experience in competitive college basketball settings and developed relationships with coaches and administrators across the Midwest and Atlantic Coast Conference regions. These connections later facilitated his transition from player to assistant coach and then to head coach at prominent institutions.
Meyer began his coaching trajectory as an assistant on staffs that included personnel from Syracuse University, Notre Dame, and several Big Ten and Big East programs. He joined DePaul University as an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer and succeeded him as head coach in 1984. During his tenure at DePaul, Meyer led teams to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, achieving high national rankings and victories over programs such as Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Louisville. After leaving DePaul in the early 1990s, he served as an assistant coach in the National Basketball Association with franchises including the Milwaukee Bucks and was head coach in the Continental Basketball Association for teams like the Grand Rapids Hoops and Rockford Lightning. Later, he coached overseas in leagues that included teams from Puerto Rico, contributing to player development for both domestic and international professionals.
Meyer emphasized discipline, defensive fundamentals, and structured offensive sets drawn from decades of NCAA Division I practice and professional influences. His approach reflected traditions established at DePaul under his predecessor and incorporated modernizations seen in the NBA and CBA during the 1980s and 1990s. He is credited with mentoring future NBA players and coaches who went on to roles with organizations such as the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers. Meyer's teams competed in high-profile tournaments including the NCAA Tournament and invitational events, and his career contributed to discussions about succession at major programs, postseason strategies, and the role of college basketball programs in player development.
Meyer was part of a coaching family rooted in Chicago athletics and maintained connections to regional institutions and alumni networks. He married and raised a family, with relatives involved in coaching, athletics administration, and business ventures across the Midwest. Off the court, he participated in community outreach and alumni events tied to DePaul University and other institutions where he coached.
Meyer received recognition for team achievements including conference honors, NCAA Tournament berths, and coach of the year considerations during high-performing seasons. His contributions to programs were acknowledged by alumni associations and regional sports organizations in Illinois and the broader Midwest, and he was inducted into local halls that celebrate coaching and athletic achievement.
Category:1949 births Category:American basketball coaches Category:DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball coaches