Bittersweet day in Miami, as Meier moves on, Anthony named interim UM women’s coach

Fighting back tears, Katie Meier spoke publicly Friday for the first time since announcing her retirement from coaching the University of Miami women’s basketball team on Thursday afternoon. At her press conference at the Watsco Center, friends, former players, staff, and media gathered to honor the beloved longtime coach.

Meier had many thanks to give. She did not have enough nice things to say about all the people who have helped her along the way, from her staff to her players to her family, nobody was left out.

“I have so many people to thank, starting with my ex-players and staff. It was a hard day yesterday,” Meier said. “People honor you and humble you with their commitment to you and they trust you with their futures and it’s never easy to walk away and break that trust. I’m very grateful to be able to stay here at the U and continue to help and lead and mentor and grow in a different way.”

Meier, 56, will transition into a new role with Miami Athletics as a special advisor to the Vice President/Director of Athletics.

Moving forward, Miami announced that associate head coach Fitzroy Anthony will serve as Miami’s interim head coach and that the university will conduct a “national search” for Meier’s replacement shortly.

While Meier had a lot of people to thank, there were plenty of people gathered to give thanks to Meier for her 19 years of dedication and commitment to the community of Miami.

“Katie Meier made people passionate about Miami women’s basketball,” said Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich. “She made kids want to come and play for her, she made coaches want to come and learn from her, she made fans want to come and cheer for her. She created a culture in our community and a commodity that has become a hallmark of this program and will continue for years to come.”

Meier, who led UM to its first women’s Elite Eight last year, will have to adjust to not being a coach for the first time in over 30 years as she moves on to her new role, which will focus on mentoring, fundraising and promoting women’s athletics.

“For over 30 years I’ve been a coach, just coach,” Meier said. “It’s a title I’ll always cherish and it means so much to me. I’ve loved every single minute of being a coach. It’s been the honor of a lifetime, from UNC-Asheville to Tulane, to Charlotte, to my beloved Miami. It’s been my privilege to serve.”

Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga recently said that he’d know it’s time to go when practice stops being fun. Meier did not have that specific moment, but she knew this was the right time for her to step away and move on to something new. Meier said she is looking forward to all the new challenges that her role will present.

“I have so much to learn; 30 years of being a coach and then like wow there is a whole other side that I don’t know a heck of a lot about,” she said. “I think I have a great skill set for it but I’ll be a rookie. It’s great.”

Meier is not the only one who is excited for her to take on this new challenge.

“She will be a tremendous asset for our department moving forward,” Radakovich said. “Helping us with mentorship, leadership training, alumni engagement, fundraising for women’s sports, and serving as a great ambassador for our university.”

Meier has done a tremendous job of being a source of strength and a role model for so many people in the Miami community, and she continues to do that, just in a different role.

“I want to thank every single one of those players who have let me share in their journey and I promise to always encourage and inspire as long as they keep dreaming. Now, you don’t have to call me coach, just call me Katie.”