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THE DON MEYER AWARD
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Arizona Christian's Jeff Rutter is the recipient of the 2019 Don Meyer award, which is presented annually to the top NAIA coach in America. |
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April 8, 2019
THE 2019 AWARD
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Jeff Rutter the coach at Arizona Christian, is the 2018-19 recipient of the Don Meyer Award, which is presented annually to the top NAIA basketball coach, in honor of one of the sport's winningest coaches.
Rutter, in his seventh season at the helm, led the Cardinals to a 25-9 record and the quarterfinals of the NAIA national tournament this season. Arizona Christian averaged 92.6 points per game.
In 38 seasons at Hamline, Lipscomb and Northern State, the legendary Meyer compiled an astounding 923-324 record. He led Lipscomb to the NAIA national championship in 1986, and coached the two highest-scoring players in the history of college basketball, John Pierce and Philip Hutcheson. Also, his 1989-90 team at Lipscomb won a record 41 games and was the highest scoring team in college history.
In 2010, he received the John Bunn Award at the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Meyer retired from coaching in February 2010. Coach Meyer lost his long battle with cancer on May 18, 2014, at the age of 69.
DON MEYER AWARD FINALISTS
Jason Beschta, John Brown (Ark.)
Thomas Billups, Tougaloo (Miss.)
Jeff Britt, Bethel (Tenn.)
Matt Brock, Missouri Baptist
Ryan Cottingham, Spring Arbor (Mich.)
Chris Francis, Science & Arts (Okla.)
John Henry, William Penn (Iowa)
Ryan Moody, Benedictine (Kan.)
Jeff Rutter, Arizona Christian
Jay Smith, Wiley (Texas)
Rhett Soliday, Vanguard (Calif.)
John Teasley, Stillman (Ala.)
Lance Von Vogt, William Jessup (Calif.)
Chris Wright, Talladega (Ala.)
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