Miami Hurricanes coach Katie Meier suspended for 1st 3 games of season
CORAL GABLES - Miami women's basketball coach Katie Meier has been suspended for the first three games of the season while the school cooperates with an NCAA probe.
Meier said Sunday that she is also cooperating with the NCAA. Neither she, the school nor the NCAA has released specifics of the probe, other than Miami calling it "an enforcement matter."
The NCAA has not announced any sanctions against Miami, which means this is a self-imposed penalty by the university.
"For over 30 years I have led my programs with integrity, excellence, equity and grit," Meier said in a statement. "I have, and will continue to, collaborate transparently with the NCAA as they review an enforcement matter with the Hurricanes' women's basketball program. I look forward to returning to competition on November 16th with the most talented student-athletes and coaches in the country."
Meier will miss Monday's season-opener against Maryland-Eastern Shore, Thursday's game against Stetson and a Nov. 13 matchup with Boston University, all at home. She will return for a Nov. 16 game, also at home, against Florida Atlantic.
Assistant head coach Fitzroy Anthony will lead the team in Meier's absence.
The university released a statement, saying, "The University and Coach Meier are working cooperatively with the NCAA on an enforcement matter and per NCAA bylaws, the University is unable to provide further details or comment at this time."
The only known NCAA inquiry involving Miami in recent months was opened late last spring, centered around some name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for some of the school's athletes. In June, the university confirmed that there was a "review" and that it regularly communicates with the NCAA "to ensure compliance with applicable NCAA regulations," but did not offer specifics.
Miami's roster this season includes twins Hanna and Haley Cavinder, two of the most recognizable athletes in the NIL era. The Cavinders announced April 22 that they would be transferring to Miami.
"They are relentless competitors," Meier said during the preseason of the twins. "I think that's been missed quite a bit. But they are relentless. Like, they will not rest unless they perfect something. So they were willing to come into a program that's pretty established. The reason being, they want to play in the Big Dance. They want to play against the nation's best."
The Hurricanes were picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season and are coming off a 21-13 year that saw them reach the ACC title game and the second round of the NCAA tournament - falling to eventual champion South Carolina.
Meier's integrity and penchant for playing by rules has routinely been touted and celebrated by the school. Her 2011-12 team spent most of the season as a top-10 team in the AP Top 25, reaching No. 5 in mid-February and cementing itself as a legitimate Final Four contender.
But in the days before the 2012 NCAA tournament, Riquna Williams - an All-ACC guard that year - broke a team rule. Meier said she suspended the guard for "conduct detrimental to the team," and the Hurricanes lost in the second round.
Meier has won 324 games at Miami, the most in the school's basketball history, and 400 games overall. She is a past Associated Press coach of the year and a past USA Basketball coach of the year, is a member of the Miami Sports Hall of Fame and the Hall of Honor at Duke, her alma mater.