St. Mary's University Athletics

Point Guard: 1961-1965
Assistant Coach: 1968-1978
Head Coach: 1978-2005 
Athletics Director: 1980-2001 

Herman “Buddy” Meyer Jr. is perhaps the most recognizable student-athlete and coach in the history of St. Mary’s athletics. His accomplishments as a player and coach are unmatched. During his 41 years at St. Mary’s, he has also served as assistant coach and Athletics Director.

Meyer came to San Antonio in 1961 as a student-athlete, beginning his nearly life-long association with St. Mary’s. He was the Rattlers’ first four-time All-Big State Conference First Team player and was named NAIA All-American Honorable Mention as a senior in 1965. Meyer still ranks fifth on the St. Mary’s all-time scoring list with 1,561 points. His No. 44 player jersey was retired in 2003.

Meyer became assistant coach to Ed Messbarger in 1968 and was named head coach in 1978, a post he held until 2005. As Athletics Director, Meyer oversaw St. Mary’s transition from the NAIA to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II. As head coach for the Rattlers, Meyer won 530 games while losing just 252 for a 67.8 winning percentage during his 27 seasons. He led the Rattlers to 17 conference championships, 13 appearances in the NAIA National Tournament and four trips to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament. He was named coach of year 15 times.
Meyer’s crowning achievement came in 1989 when he led the Rattlers to the NAIA National Championship, defeating East Central University (Okla.) 61-58 in the nail-biting title game. Meyer was named NAIA National Coach of the Year that season.

Equally as impressive as all the titles his team has won, Meyer’s student-athletes had an 80 percent graduation rate. Meyer’s strong connection to his players and the St. Mary’s community was evident in the full capacity crowd on hand for his final game in 2005 and the emotional retirement send-off.

Meyer was recognized as a St. Mary’s Distinguished Alumnus in 1983 and the “Buddy and Anna Meyer Courts” within the Bill Greehey Arena were named in 2007, the same year Meyer was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame. For Meyer’s stellar career as a player, coach, mentor and exemplifying the NAIA’s “Champion of Character” traits, the NAIA inducted Meyer into their NAIA Hall of Fame in 2009.