Former Cane Blue Returns to UM as Assistant Coach

May 2, 2012

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami welcomes back one of its own as women’s basketball head coach Katie Meier named Octavia Blue the Hurricanes’ newest assistant coach on Wednesday.

Blue, who amassed 1,724 points from 1994-98 as a Cane, returns to The U after coaching stints at St. John’s (2008-09) and Georgia Tech (2009-12), along with a nine-year professional basketball career.

“I am very excited to have Octavia back home at The U,” Meier said. “No one can wear Miami pride like an alum. Octavia will bring invaluable experience with her as a veteran coach of the Big East and the ACC and we are excited for her to get underway.”

Among Blue’s responsibilities at Miami will be post-player development, recruiting and opponent scouting.

“Words cannot express how excited I am to return home to my alma mater and join Coach Katie Meier’s staff as an assistant coach,” Blue said. “Coach Meier is one of the best coaches in the country who has done a phenomenal job in getting the program to elite status. I look forward to learning and working with her and the rest of the staff as we continue to set new heights at The U.”

The assistant coach position with the Canes became available after former assistant Vernette Skeete was named the head coach at Gulf Coast State College in April.

After her decorated collegiate career, Blue was selected 15th overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in 1998, becoming Miami’s first WNBA Draft pick. She had a lengthy professional career that lasted from 1998-2006, which included playing for two WNBA teams (Sparks and Houston Comets) and international clubs in Greece, Israel, France, Turkey and Poland.

Blue returned to school to secure her degree in sociology/sport management in 2007 and, in 2008, was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame and named an ACC Women’s Basketball Legend.

“To be back at Miami is an absolute dream come true,” Blue added. “I can’t wait to get started.”