Jeff Meyer, who has strong ties to both head coach LaVall Jordan and Butler University, will return to the Butler staff as an assistant coach. Jordan made the announcement Tuesday, June 20.
Meyer, who has been a college coach for 38 seasons, and Jordan will reunite at Butler. They worked together as assistant coaches on John Beilein’s staff at Michigan for six seasons after previously serving together on Todd Lickliter’s Butler staff during the 2003-04 season. In total, Meyer was a member of the Butler staff for three seasons (2001-04). Meyer was on the Michigan staff for a total of nine seasons.
“Jeff has been a mentor to me for many years, and is a dear friend,” said Jordan, who was hired as Butler’s head coach last week. “He’s been in this business for a long time and has had success at every stop, including 16 seasons as a head coach. Jeff appreciates what makes Butler special and brings a resume as a strong recruiter and developer of talent. Having him one seat down from me on the bench will have a profound impact on our program.”
“The stars really aligned on this opportunity,” said Meyer. “LaVall is a trusted friend and a gifted basketball coach. I have great memories of our time at Butler and have continued to cheer for this program from afar. Personally, getting back to central Indiana also brings my wife and I closer to much of our family, and that was very important to us. I have tremendous energy and great passion to help LaVall put his stamp on Butler Basketball.”
In the six seasons that Meyer and Jordan were together at Michigan (prior to Jordan leaving to take the head coaching position at Milwaukee), the Wolverines posted a record of 143-70 and made the NCAA Tournament in five of those six seasons, including a run to the 2013 NCAA national championship game.
Meyer spent three seasons at Butler (2001-04), where he helped guide the Bulldogs to back-to-back Horizon League Championships (2002, 2003), advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2003. He spearheaded the recruiting efforts and played a vital role in the Bulldogs’ player-skill development program, game preparation and strategy. Butler registered a 69-26 mark during his three seasons.
Throughout his career, Meyer has amassed 735 wins with 15 trips to the NCAA Tournament. Michigan averaged more than 20 wins per season during his time in Ann Arbor, reaching the NCAA Tournament in seven of those nine seasons. Following the 2013 national championship game appearance, the Wolverines made it back-to-back Elite Eight appearances as U-M returned in 2014.
Prior to joining the Wolverine staff, Meyer spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Indiana University (2006-08), helping the Hoosiers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances (2007, 2008). Before his time in Bloomington, Meyer spent two seasons as an assistant at the University of Missouri (2004-06), where the Tigers made an NIT appearance in 2005.
Before his time at Butler, Meyer was the associate head coach at Winthrop University (1998-2001), helping the Eagles win three straight Big South Tournament titles and secure three straight NCAA Tournament berths (1999, 2000, 2001).
Prior to his assistant coaching career, Meyer spent 16 years as the head coach at Liberty University (1981-97), registering a 259-206 overall record becoming the Flames’ all-time winningest coach — a mark he still holds today. He led Liberty to the 1994 Big South Tournament championship and a bid to the NCAA Tournament. He was instrumental in helping Liberty make the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division I. In addition to his outstanding efforts as a head coach, Meyer’s program also produced successful individuals in the classroom, earning a 90-percent graduation rate (45 of 50 student-athletes) from 1981 to 1997.
Meyer began his coaching career as an assistant to Lee Rose at Purdue University (1978-80), where he earned his master’s degree. He was part of a Boilermakers squad that reached the 1980 NCAA Final Four, following a Big Ten regular-season co-championship and earn a 1979 NIT final appearance. Meyer spent an additional season with Rose at the University of South Florida (1980-81), helping the Bulls to an appearance in the NIT, before becoming the head coach at Liberty.
Meyer, a native of Reynolds, Ind., is a 1976 graduate of Taylor University where he was recently inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame (2014). He and his wife, Karen, are the parents of two daughters, Holli and Sarah, and a son, Josh.
