When people state someone bleeds team colors, it might actually be true for newly named head men’s basketball coach Herman A. “Bubba” Meyer III, who has spent his entire life as a part of the Men’s Basketball program at St. Mary’s University.
 
On March 21, 2023, Meyer was named the 17th head coach in Rattlers history, though only the fourth in 60 years as he follows the longest-tenured and winningest coaches in Rattler history in Ed Messbarger (1964-1978), his father Buddy Meyer (B.A. '65) (1978-2005) and Jim Zeleznak (B.A. '79) (2005-2023).

In his first season as head coach, Meyer led the team to a 12-16 record and saw Lachlan Bofinger earn Lone Star All-Conference Third-Team honors after leading the conference in double-doubles with 14. 

He grew up watching his father, Buddy Meyer coach the Rattlers for 27 years, and he played for his dad, earning All-Conference honors in 2000, as well as the Brother Bill Siemer Free Throw Accuracy Award. He also led the team in assist-to-turnover ratio all four seasons and his teammates selected him as the Most Valuable Player in his senior campaign. 

Meyer spent 22 seasons on the sideline as either assistant or associate head coach, as immediately upon the completion of his playing career, he transitioned to a coach. Meyer was the starting point guard all four years, and he helped lead his team to two National Tournament appearances, including the Rattlers’ first trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 2000-01 -  and has seen some of the greatest moments in Rattlers’ history.

Some of those highlights include earning four-straight National Tournament appearances – including the team’s first-ever Sweet 16 nod in 2013; winning the Heartland Conference Tournament three of four years in 2012, 2013 and 2015 and he’s seen four teams in his coaching tenure reach the 20-win plateau.

During his 22 as an assistant with the Rattlers, St. Mary’s posted a 334-278 overall record with nine Heartland Conference titles (three regular season and six tournament) and nine trips to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament. He was part of the coaching staffs that earned both the 2004-05 and 2014-15 Heartland Conference Coach of the Year honors.

He has helped the Rattlers earn All-Lone Star Conference honors nine times and All-Heartland Conference honors 36 times over the last 23 years, while two have earned Heartland Player of the Year honors, three have earned Defensive Player of the Year, six have picked up Freshman of the Year and three have earned Newcomer of the Year. 

The 2012-13 season also saw the program’s first All-American since entering the NCAA as Kevin Kotzur earned Daktronics All-America First Team while finishing his career as the Heartland Conference’s All-Time leading rebounder and scorer. 

Meyer is a 2001 graduate of St. Mary’s University with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science. He graduated with a master’s degree in education leadership from St. Mary’s in 2004.

He is married to the former Vanessa Peterson. The couple has three sons, Grayson, Dillon and Chase, and two daughters, Harper and Quinn.