by David Boyce
MARYVILLE, Mo. – During the 2010-11 season, Austin Meyer was in his third season as assistant men’s basketball coach at Northwest Missouri State when the Bearcats suffered their third straight losing season.
The last two of those seasons were under Ben McCollum, a young head coach learning the ropes in the rugged MIAA. A 22-31 record in those two years might cause some assistant coaches to do much more than dust off the resume.
But that’s not in Meyer’s DNA. Meyer, who played fours at Northwest, believed in McCollum.
“Playing with him as a teammate, he was that guy who had that drive,” Meyer said. “He went full throttle every time he was on the floor. He was the same way when I started working for him as a coach.
“There were still plenty of positive people who felt like we were going to get the job done. I’m sure there were some who thought these guys don’t know what the heck they are doing. I was very confident that with his competitiveness and work ethic that we would be able to get it going in the right direction.”
Considering the last four years of incredible success – three trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament and three MIAA regular-season championships, it is hard to remember Northwest was 12-15 in the 2009-10 season and 10-16 in 2010-11.
Loyalty through the two lean years meant a lot to McCollum.
“That is very difficult to do when you are with a 27-year-old, 28-year-old head coach,” McCollum said. “He stuck with me through that and with the program. He stuck with the process. That says a lot about his character.
“A lot of guys would have jumped ship or you would have heard them around town about how coach Mac can’t coach. I never heard that from anybody regards to him and that means a lot.”
As an assistant coach, Meyer did much more than just believe in McCollum. He worked and worked hard. Some of his duties included working with post players and being the top recruiter.
A big reason for Northwest’s four-year run is the recruitment and then development of high school players.
“He is an excellent recruiter,” McCollum said. “If you put him on one or two guys, he generally gets the job done.”
McCollum appreciates the job Meyer has done so much that he is elevating him to associate head coach, starting July 1.
“I think he is ready to be a head coach,” McCollum said. “He has been extremely valuable in a lot of different ways. The thing for my coaching staff and me is he is opposite from the way I am. He is laidback and goes with the flow. I’m a little more high strung. We fit perfectly together. He keeps the job fun. I try to do the same.”
Meyer said the promotion means a lot to him.
“I’ve been here for a while,” Meyer said. “I really like working for him. He has always fought for everybody, players and staff.”
Meyer loves Northwest. He arrived from Blue Springs High School more than a decade ago. He played four seasons for Steve Tappmeyer. When Meyer’s basketball playing days ended, he thought about going to Europe and playing professionally.
“But the graduate assistant position opened up and they hired me,” Meyer said. “After the graduate assistant position was done, a slot opened up as a fulltime assistant and I was fortunate enough that Tapp took a chance on me. I didn’t know what I was doing at that age.”
Meyer soaked in a lot of basketball knowledge in those seven years with Tappmeyer. And Meyer’s easygoing personality fit perfectly for the staff. Tappmeyer and McCollum bring a lot of intensity, but part of that comes with being a head coach.
One day, Meyer wants to be in those shoes.
“I have a very strong desire to be a head coach,” Meyer said. “I’ve talked a lot with people who have asked. I am not in any hurry to get out. I know there are a lot of people who job jump, always looking for the next job. I am a little different. I feel very comfortable where I am. I love the people I work with and work for and the kids we recruit. I enjoy going to practice every single day and seeing these kids.
“If a job opens up that I have a chance at and I don’t see a great chance of winning or great support, I am not going to take it just to say I am a head coach.”
In his new role, Meyer will get a little more taste of what it is like to be a head coach.
“I will put more decisions on him where he has to be the final say rather than suggesting,” McCollum said. “That is the big thing between assistant and head coach. Now you have to make the decision. It makes a big difference in how you do things.”
Don’t expect Meyer’s personality to change when he is given an opportunity to make a decision. He understands perfectly that McCollum is the head coach. Meyer’s job is to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
But Meyer is ready for that moment in practice or a game when McCollum turns to him and ask for a decision that the Bearcats will follow.
“He has used a lot of suggestions I have said,” Meyer said. “I think it is tough sometimes because as a head coach, you have everybody on the bench telling you something.
“I will give a suggestion when I strongly feel about something. But a lot of times I am confident that what he is doing is the right thing and I am going to support him on whatever he does. It is easy to second guess things after it happens.”
One of these years down the road, Meyer will depart Northwest for his own program. For now, Meyer is happy helping to make the Bearcats the best team in the MIAA and in NCAA Division II.
“This is my alma mater,” Meyer said. “There are some great people who work here and are associated with our university.”
— Northwest Athletics —