THE DON MEYER AWARD

2019 Don Meyer Award

April 8, 2019

THE 2019 AWARD

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Jeff Rutter the coach at Arizona Christian, is the 2018-19 recipient of the Don Meyer Award, which is presented annually to the top NAIA basketball coach, in honor of one of the sport's winningest coaches.

Rutter, in his seventh season at the helm, led the Cardinals to a 25-9 record and the quarterfinals of the NAIA national tournament this season. Arizona Christian averaged 92.6 points per game.

In 38 seasons at Hamline, Lipscomb and Northern State, the legendary Meyer compiled an astounding 923-324 record. He led Lipscomb to the NAIA national championship in 1986, and coached the two highest-scoring players in the history of college basketball, John Pierce and Philip Hutcheson. Also, his 1989-90 team at Lipscomb won a record 41 games and was the highest scoring team in college history.

In 2010, he received the John Bunn Award at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Meyer retired from coaching in February 2010. Coach Meyer lost his long battle with cancer on May 18, 2014, at the age of 69.


DON MEYER AWARD FINALISTS
 
Jason Beschta, John Brown (Ark.)
Thomas Billups, Tougaloo (Miss.)
Jeff Britt, Bethel (Tenn.)
Matt Brock, Missouri Baptist
Ryan Cottingham, Spring Arbor (Mich.)
Chris Francis, Science & Arts (Okla.)
John Henry, William Penn (Iowa)
Ryan Moody, Benedictine (Kan.)
Jeff Rutter, Arizona Christian
Jay Smith, Wiley (Texas)
Rhett Soliday, Vanguard (Calif.)
John Teasley, Stillman (Ala.)
Lance Von Vogt, William Jessup (Calif.)
Chris Wright, Talladega (Ala.)
 

 

 

 

 

 

The Don Meyer Award, which is presented annually to the top NAIA basketball coach, is named in honor of the one of the sport's winningest coaches.
 
In 38 seasons at Hamline, Lipscomb and Northern State, he compiled an astounding 923-324 record. He led Lipscomb to the NAIA national championship in 1986, and coached the two highest-scoring players in the history of college basketball, John Pierce and Philip Hutcheson. Also, his 1989-90 team at Lipscomb won a record 41 games and was the highest scoring team in college history. 
 
In 2010, he received the John Bunn Award at the Basketball Hall of Fame.
 
Meyer retired from coaching in February 2010. Coach Meyer lost his long battle with cancer on May 18, 2014, at the age of 69.
 
The recipient of the 2023-24 award will be announced in April, in Phoenix, AZ site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

The Don Meyer award is presented annually to the top NAIA head coach, as voted on by the award committee. 
 
The 10-member voting committee consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
 
The award is presented annually at the site of the men's Division I NCAA basketball championship. 

Champign Image
Champign Image
Champign Image