Miami coach Katie Meier is retiring too soon after 19 years of winning and class.
MIAMI — Katie Meier announced her resignation as Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball coach on Thursday, a day when she should have been back on the field at practice, preparing her team for their NCAA Tournament opening round game. Her Canes reached the Elite Eight one year ago, a programme first, and finished 19-12 this season; they were predicted to be invited by all forecasts and reasoning, and should have been, but were unjustly denied on Sunday. UM was promptly invited to be the top seed in the supplementary WNIT tournament, but they declined.
And so it concludes. After 19 seasons. And too soon. Meier’s unexpected retirement was her idea, and it came as a surprise; she had four years remaining on her contract. The retirement of UM men’s coach Jim Larranaga at the age of 74 would have been far less surprising. Meier is only 56. It is a significant loss for UM athletics, but she will remain at the institution as a special advisor/ambassador, focusing on fundraising for women’s sports.
Though the NCAA denied her one final tournament appearance, she exits on her own terms, on her own schedule, and with our gratitude and respect. As per her demeanour, she left with gratitude rather than a shot at the NCAA selection committee.
“Nineteen years ago I was offered my dream job to be the head coach of the University of Miami, and while I have absolutely loved living that dream, it is with a heart full of pride and gratitude that I announce my retirement from coaching,” Meier said in a statement on Thursday. “Miami is a truly remarkable place, and my time here has been both an honour and a privilege. Today is a day to celebrate and reflect on the incredible accomplishment that was made possible through partnership with exceptional people.”
Meier is UM’s all-time winningest basketball coach, men or women, with a 362-208 record. Under her leadership, the programme has 11 20-win seasons and ten NCAA Tournament bids, including its first Elite Eight appearance last year. She was named AP National Coach of the Year in 2011. Above all, she carried herself with impeccable grace and served as an excellent role model for subsequent generations of players. She was a gift to UM following a standout playing career at Duke and four seasons coaching at Charlotte before being hired here in 2005.