May 31, 2001
ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop men’s basketball associate head coach Jeff Meyer has announced his resignation effective June 1 in order to accept the assistant coaching position at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN, effective June 3.
Meyer, who served as head coach for 16 years at Liberty University, has served on Gregg Marshall’s staff at Winthrop for the past three years and has helped the Eagles capture three consecutive Big South Conference championships and trips to the NCAA tournament. He was also an assistant coach at Purdue for two years from 1978-1980 where he helped the Boilermakers reach the Final Four in 1980. In accepting the Butler job, Meyer will be returning to his home state where he will be closer to family members and to his son’s university.
"We are both sad and happy today in the Winthrop basketball office as coach Jeff Meyer has taken a similar position with Butler University’s men’s basketball program," said Marshall. "Jeff has given us three tremendous years."
Marshall said the Butler situation is a tremendous opportunity for Meyer with them having gone to the NCAA tournament four of the last five years. "Jeff will be closer to his home and his wife Karen’s home, and will only be an hour away from his son, Josh, who will be a freshman at coach Meyer’s alma mater, Taylor University, on a basketball scholarship. Given those reasons as well as the great financial situation, we certainly wish him the best and realize that we are not only losing a great basketball coach, but an even better person."
Meyer said the decision to leave Winthrop was a difficult one. "The fact that we have such a talented team returning and the relationship we have with our players, made the decision all that more difficult," he said. "I am excited about returning to Indiana and joining Butler University and its great basketball tradition. We’re leaving Winthrop with the fondest of memories---three conference championships, unprecedented growth and success, and the great people. Winthrop is such a special place. I was extremely comfortable with our vision of Winthrop basketball and the university’s mission.
"I appreciate the opportunity coach Marshall extended to me and my family. I wish coach Marshall, the coaching staff and the entire Winthrop athletic program nothing but the best."
Meyer is also leaving behind a successful tenure in the Big South Conference while at Liberty and Winthrop. During nine years of coaching in the Big South, he was involved in six championship games and won four of them. Liberty and Winthrop went a combined 15-5 in Big South tournament play and those two schools had a combined record of 107-47 in conference play during his nine years of association with the league.
Meyer is expected to begin his duties at Butler on June 3. A search is underway to find Meyer’s replacement at Winthrop.
