Meyer captures 903rd win, becomes NCAA men's all-time leader

Jan 11, 2009 - 6:21 AM ABERDEEN, South Dakota (Ticker) -- Don Meyer became the NCAA men's college basketball all-time leader in wins Saturday, claiming his 903rd career victory.

Meyer, 64, surpassed former Indiana coach Bob Knight as the NCAA's all-time leader in Northern State's 82-62 victory over the University of Mary.

"He was a great coach," Meyer said of Knight. "I'd always ask coaches in the league he was coaching in, 'Who's the best coach in your league?' They would say there's no question, it's (Knight). And coaches don't lie about that stuff."

Working the game from a wheelchair, Meyer reached the milestone just four months after a serious car accident that nearly took his life.

Following a crash on September 5 when he was leading his team to a weekend retreat, Meyer was forced to have part of his left leg amputated. His long hospital stay also caused the discovery of cancer forming in his intestines and liver.

Despite the setbacks, Meyer returned the sideline for Division II Northern State and tied Knight last Saturday with a road win at Upper Iowa.

A brief celebration occurred following his latest victory in front of a crowd of 6,654, including a congratulatory video message from former UCLA coaching great John Wooden. A formal celebration is set for prior to tip-off of Northern State's home game on January 17.

Including stints with Division III's Hamline University and NAIA school Lipscomb, Murray has a career record of 903-301 in 37 seasons.

Harry Statham of McKendree University, a NAIA school, is the career leader in men's coaching with 979 wins over 43 seasons.