The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
MICHIGAN BASKETBALL His teammates, meanwhile, got to know him on the team's first bonding op- portunity, the August exhibition tour in Italy. His first minute on the floor, in the first exhibition game, brought cheers, tears and hugs. "It was very emotional," Michigan assistant Jeff Meyer said. "Austin has gone through a tremendous amount, but has shown great persistence since we got him in July, and his attitude and effort are always at 100 percent. "Our guys are very aware and Austin is very aware he is a work in progress in developing his motor skills, but for him to be able to step on court wearing that Michigan uniform, something he dreamed about and worked so hard for … to put himself in a position to actually step on the court and wear the Michigan uniform was very emotional. It's certainly a moment I will never forget." MEYER ELECTED TO TAYLOR HALL OF FAME Michigan assistant coach Jeff Meyer enjoyed a distinction from his alma mater in the latter part of October, getting chosen for the Taylor University Athletic Hall of Fame. The private school in Up- land, Ind., saw Meyer graduate from there in 1976. He began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Purdue, reaching the Final Four with the Boilermakers in 1980. He later served as head coach at Liberty University in Virginia for 16 sea- sons, from 1981-97, becoming the school's all- time winningest coach with 259 victories. In 1994, Meyer took Liberty to the NCAA Tourna- ment, the first time the school ever made it there. He has served as an assistant at a number of other stops, including Missouri and Indiana, and was part of the Butler squad that reached the Sweet 16 in 2003. He's beginning his seventh season at Michigan, a tenure that has featured a national title game and an Elite Eight appearance. "Jeff values his education at Taylor so much," Michigan head coach John Beilein said. "He talks about it often and knows it's been a separator for him in his life that allowed him to get into coaching and allowed him to have a tremendous career as a coach. It's terrific to be recognized by your alma mater in an environ- ment like this; he certainly deserves it and I'm glad they are honoring him in this way." "I am humbled and feel extremely blessed with this honor," Meyer said. "Taylor University provided me a life-changing college experience as a student-athlete which enabled me to establish a faith foundation that has served my family and me well in our journey through life together." Michigan assistant coach Jeff Meyer has been elected to the Taylor University Athletic Hall of Fame. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN