Joey Meyer, a player and longtime coach for Big 10 men's basketball team DePaul, died Friday in a Chicago suburb at age 74.
No cause of death was given for Meyer, who died surrounded by family. Details about a public memorial service will be given at a later date, a statement from DePaul said.
"We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of former DePaul coach and student-athlete, Joey Meyer," DePaul posted on X. "Meyer dedicated more than 30 years to DePaul basketball. Our thoughts are with the Meyer family."
We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of former DePaul coach and student-athlete, Joey Meyer.
Meyer dedicated more than 30 years to DePaul basketball.
Our thoughts are with the Meyer family.
📰 https://t.co/Bb74ZrBJuE pic.twitter.com/TiB3i7lDMv
— DePaul Basketball (@DePaulHoops) December 30, 2023
Meyer grew up attending the DePaul Academy, a Catholic prep school, and playing basketball there, according to DePaul's press release.
He played under his father Ray's coaching at DePaul from 1968 to 1971, averaging 16.4 points in 75 games.
Meyer was the fourth top scorer in the school's history when he graduated in 1971, and he remains a top scorer even now.
He was drafted in the 1971 NBA draft but never played in the NBA.
Meyer served as assistant coach of the Blue Demons for 11 seasons under his father at DePaul before taking over as head coach in 1984 upon his father's retirement.
In his first five seasons of coaching, the Blue Demons reached the playoffs every year. In 1986 and 1987, they reached the Sweet 16.
He had a 231-158 record in a total of 13 seasons as DePaul's head coach.
Some of the top players Meyer coached included Rod Strickland, David Booth, and Tom Kleinschmidt.
After leaving DePaul, Meyer coached with the NBA Developmental League, where he won two Development League Championships with 226 total victories.
After retirement from coaching, he became a regional scout for the L.A. Clippers and a broadcaster for WGN-AM.
Meyer was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame as a player in 2009, and into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021, where he joined his father and brother Tom.
