DEPAUL HISTORY & RECORDS | No one is more associated with DePaul University or DePaul than Ray Meyer. For most people, the word “DePaul” is synonymous with the name Ray Meyer. Meyer passed away on Mar. 17, 2006 at the age of 92. In his 42 years as head coach of DePaul from 1942-84, he compiled a record of 724-354 (.671). In his career, 13 of his teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament and seven of his squads played in the National Invitation Tournament. His 1943 and 1979 teams advanced to the NCAA Final Four while his 1945 team, featuring future Hall of Famer , won the NIT when it was considered the national championship. One of only seven Division I coaches to win at least 700 games, Coach Ray posted 37 winning seasons and 12 campaigns of 20 wins or more. In his last seven years at DePaul (1977-84), he posted an impressive record of 180-30 (.857). Six of those teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament and his 1983 team played in the NIT finals. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979, Meyer was recognized around the basketball world simply as “Coach”. His 724 career wins were tied for 28th on the all-time list entering the 2014-15 season. In 1978 and 1980, he was named Coach of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association. The Associated Press also honored him as its national Coach of the Year in both 1980 and 1984. In addition, he was named the Kodak Man of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) in 1980 and was awarded the Award from the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1981 for contributions to the game of basketball. He was also duties included fundraising and special projects. In addition, honored with the NIT-NACDA Award in 1984. Meyer was a color analyst for DePaul basketball games Besides his Naismith Hall of Fame honor, Coach Ray is on WGN Radio for 13 seasons. In his 55 years at DePaul, also a member of the Illinois and Chicagoland Sports Halls he attended 1,467 consecutive Blue Demon games, never of Fame, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame missing a DePaul contest in that time span. Meyer was and the DePaul Hall of Fame. Meyer was also honored in succeeded at DePaul by his son, Joey, who recorded a career 1992 by the NABC with the Balfour Golden Anniversary Ring record of 231-158 (.594) in 13 seasons as head coach. for 50 years of contributions to basketball. On Sept. 30, 1999, a lasting tribute to Meyer was Upon retiring as DePaul’s coach in 1984, Ray served as dedicated on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus as the Ray Special Assistant to the President of DePaul until 1997. His Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center opened. This 120,000 square foot facility provides the DePaul community with a variety of fitness and recreational sport spaces. Yet another lasting tribute to Coach Ray and his family occurred on Dec. 14, 2003 when the game floor at the was officially dedicated as Ray and Marge Meyer Court in honor of the coach and his late wife of 43 years who passed away in 1986. Over the final years of his life, Coach Ray again became a fixture at DePaul home games and spent time in the locker room with the Blue Demon players and coaches.