Katie Meier

Over the last 18 years, the name Katie Meier has become synonymous with Miami women’s basketball.

As the head coach of the Miami women’s basketball team, Meier has amassed 11 20-win seasons and coached the team to 13 postseason appearances, including 10 straight from 2009-2019. She is the all-time winningest basketball coach – men’s or women’s – at Miami with 343 career victories.

Through the 2022-23 campaign, Meier boasts a career record of 419-269 and holds a 343-224 mark during her time heading up the Miami program.

A Historic Run

In 2022-23, Meier and the Hurricanes made history, earning the program’s first ever Elite Eight berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The run began in thrilling fashion as Miami mounted a 17-point halftime comeback against ninth-seeded Oklahoma State in the first round, the sixth-largest halftime comeback in NCAA Tournament history, to defeat the Cowgirls, 62-61.

The Hurricanes followed that with one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, defeating top-seeded Indiana on their home court, 70-68, to earn the first Sweet Sixteen berth of Meier’s tenure.

In true Cinderella fashion, Miami then withstood a 20-point comeback by fourth-seeded Villanova in the Sweet Sixteen to earn a trip to the Elite Eight, defeating the Wildcats, 70-65.

The Hurricanes’ historic run came to an end in the Elite Eight when they fell to eventual national champion, LSU, 54-42.

Honors and Accolades

Meier has been recognized for her coaching success numerous times throughout her career.

She was a co-recipient of the 2013 USA Basketball National Coach of the Year award following a 9-0 record and gold medal at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship and was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

At the conclusion of the 2010-11 season, Meier was named the Associated Press National Coach of the Year – sharing the award with Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma and Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer. That season, she led the Hurricanes to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004, coached the Hurricanes to their first NCAA Tournament win since 1993 and was named ACC Coach of the Year.

In 2002, Meier was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team and in 2006, she named an ACC Legend at the 2006 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament.

All About the Players

Meier has developed Miami into a program committed to its players and those student-athletes have flourished over the last 18 years.

Five All-Americans have emerged under Meier’s tutelage: Tamara James (2006), Shenise Johnson (2011, 2012), Riquna Williams (2011, 2012), Adrienne Motley (2016) and Beatrice Mompremier (2019, 2020).

Six Hurricanes have been drafted into the WNBA following their time at Miami under Meier’s tutelage, most recently being Destiny Harden who was selected 27^th overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2023 WNBA Draft. James, Johnson, Mompremier, Motley and Williams were all also selected to the WNBA.

In total, Meier has coached 30 players that have gone on to play professionally, whether that is in the WNBA or overseas.

Under Meier’s direction, 16 players have earned All-ACC Team postseason accolades, including Shenise Johnson who was named ACC Player of the Year in 2011. Five Hurricanes have been tabbed to the ACC All-Defensive Team and five rookies have made an appearance on the ACC All-Freshman Team. Emese Hof (’18), earned the first ACC Most Improved Player for Miami in program history.

Meier’s players have also excelled in the classroom as 17 players have earned a spot on the ACC All-Academic team, with four players earning multi-year bids. Additionally, Miami has placed someone on the ACC Honor Roll in all 18 of Meier’s seasons as head coach.

Milestone Moments

Miami made it’s 10^th NCAA Tournament appearance under Meier in 2022, besting South Florida in the first round. The win over the Bulls marked Meier’s 400^th career win as a head coach.

At the 2022 ACC Tournament, Miami made a historic run all the way to the ACC Championship Game – the first finals appearance in program history. The Hurricanes defeated a pair of top-25 teams in No. 4 Louisville and No. 20 Notre Dame en route to the finals.

On Nov. 9, 2021, Meier became the all-time winningest basketball coach – men’s or women’s – at Miami, passing Hurricane legend Ferne Labati (303).

Miami’s trip to the 2019 NCAA Tournament marked the 10^th consecutive postseason appearance for the program, including the eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament in nine years.

In 2015-16, Meier led Miami to a 24-9 record to tie for the fifth-most wins in a season in program history. The Hurricanes beat both Duke and North Carolina in the same year for the first time in program history, with the victory at North Carolina being the 200^th of Meier’s tenure at Miami.

During the 2011-12 season, Meier coached the Hurricanes to their highest ranking in program history at No. 5. Miami went undefeated at home for the second consecutive season, pushing the home win streak to 40 games.

The Hurricanes entered the 2010-11 season picked eighth in the Preseason ACC Poll and exceeded all outside expectations, posting a perfect 20-0 record inside the BankUnited Center. Miami finished conference play with a 12-2 record, earning their first regular season conference title since joining the league in 2004.

Shenise Johnson was named to four different All-America squads and became the second player in program history to be named the conference player of the year (Frances Savage – BIG EAST – 1992).

Hired April 19, 2005, Meier was appointed head coach of the Miami women’s basketball team by then-Miami AD Paul Dee, signifying the beginning of a new era.

Prior to Miami

Meier got her start as a head coach at Charlotte, where she recorded an impressive four-year tenure. The 49ers made the postseason in three of her four years including the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since…Following a successful 2002-03 season, Meier was named Conference USA Coach of the Year.

Prior to Charlotte, Meier did stints at Tulane (1994-2001) and UNC Asheville (1993-94).

Establishing Her Legacy as a Player

Meier’s success as a coach is a direct reflection of her playing career as a standout at Duke University. A four-year letter winner for the Blue Devils under head coach Debbie Leonard from 1986-90, Meier’s name is scattered throughout the Duke record books.

She earned ACC Rookie of the Year and Basketball Yearbook Freshman All-America honors in 1986 and was named a Kodak WBCA District 2 All-American in 1990.

In 2002, Meier was honored by Duke for her efforts as a player when she was named to the inaugural induction class in the Blue Devils’ Hall of Honor.

Meier’s success on the court was only outdone by her accomplishments in the classroom. She was named to the Dean’s List from 1986-88. In 1988 she also earned GTE Academic All-America Second Team honors.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in English literature with cum laude honors in 1989, Meier went on to earn a master’s degree in teaching English from Duke in 1990.

Following her career at Duke, Meier moved overseas to play three seasons with BBC Mini-Flat Waregem in Belgium from 1990-93. There, she helped lead her team to three First Division regular season titles and one Belgian Cup Championship. While in Belgium, Meier also spent time teaching classes of conversational English while coaching teams of 15- to 17-year-olds.

A native of Wheaton, Ill., Meier graduated from Wheaton Central High School in 1985 and in October 2009 was inducted into her high school’s athletic hall of fame.

Katie Meier Year-By-Year Records