Legendary DePaul coach Meyer dies

CHICAGO – Ray Meyer, who built DePaul into a national basketball power during a 42-year span, coaching a generation of players stretching from George Mikan to Mark Aguirre, died Friday at age 92.

Meyer twice took the Blue Demons to the NCAA Final Four, helped develop Mikan – who would eventually become basketball’s first dominating big man – and coached DePaul to the 1945 NIT title.

His death was confirmed by athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto. The school said his family was with him when he died at an assisted living facility. Additional details were not immediately available.

Meyer died just as the NCAA tournament was getting under way in cities around the country – an event his teams competed in 13 times.

Meyer was an avuncular, stout, ever-smiling presence on the court – one who favored wearing green carnations on St. Patrick’s Day.

He had an eye for talent with players like Aguirre, Terry Cummings, Dallas Comegys and Dave Corzine, who parlayed their college experience into pro careers.

But no player he coached had as much of an impact on the game as Mikan, who died in June 2005.

Meyer had just been hired at DePaul in 1942 when he was introduced to a 6-foot-10 student with thick glasses.

“I saw George Mikan,” Meyer recalled, “and I saw my future.”

Under Meyer’s tutelage, Mikan became a two-time college player of the year. A half-century ago, no one had seen someone that tall with such agility, tenacity and skill.

From the days of two-handed set shots to the slam dunk era, Meyer either coached or broadcast 1,467 consecutive Blue Demons games, a 55-year streak. He retired in 1984 with a 724-354 record and then became a special assistant to the president while also doing radio commentary.

Meyer’s 1978-79 team reached the Final Four by beating Southern California, Marquette and UCLA in the NCAA tournament. The Blue Demons lost 76-74 to Larry Bird’s Indiana State team in the semifinals, then defeated Penn 96-93 to finish third.

Michigan State won the title that season behind Magic Johnson. Jud Heathcote, who coached the Spartans then, was in Dayton, Ohio, on Friday to watch his old team in the tournament.

“He was a great coach, but a greater man,” Heathcote said. “His longevity was unbelievable. He was a tremendous credit to our profession.”