Ask a Chicagoan about "The Coach" and most will reminisce about Mike Ditka. The original "Coach" in the Windy City was former DePaul head coach Ray Meyer. The long-time Blue Demon boss passed away on March 17th at the age of 92.
Meyer led DePaul for 42 seasons, was an innovator, a Hall of Famer, and a true college basketball legend. He led DePaul to the 1945 NIT title and the 1943 and 1979 Final Fours, and coached 21 future NBA players, 17 All-Americans, and six consensus All-Americans. His tenure is unimaginable in an era that elite coaches seem to be looking towards available NBA jobs or a more elite college job. Meyer finished with a career record of 724-354.
Meyer was one of the first coaches to stress the importance of inside play. He turned George Mikan into one of the NBA's 50 greatest players. Other superstars that studied under his tutelage include Mark Aguirre and Terry Cummings.
The Blue Demons' run to the 1979 Final Four was one that captured the country's imagination. DePaul upset UCLA in the regional final to put Meyer in his first Final Four in 36 years. In Salt Lake City, DePauk succumbed to Indiana State, 76-74. A DePaul win would have prevented the most anticipated NCAA Championship Game ever. The Magic Johnson/Larry Bird, Michigan State/Indiana State showdown might never have happened had DePaul upset the Sycamores.
Meyer was able to use the success of the 1979 season to build the Blue Demons into a national power over the next five years. DePaul dominated the regular season like few teams do today. DePaul finished with only 21 losses during the first half of the decade. They entered four NCAA tournaments with number one seeds, and only advanced to one Sweet 16. In what would be Ray Meyer's last game, the Blue Demons were unable to hold on to a 10-point second half lead, and fell to Wake Forest. Their inability to advance predated the 64-team tournament. From 1980-82, DePaul lost their opening game three straight years.
What made Meyer's career amazing wasn't the superstars he coached or the players he sent to the NBA. "Coach Ray" was a giant because of the way he treated people. He was extremely tough on his players in practice and didn't tolerate lapses in judgment. Ray Meyer was special because he was everyone's father, grandfather, and favorite uncle. Chicago will never be able to claim someone like him as its own again.
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