Michael Meek enters his second season as the head coach of the George Fox University women’s basketball program in 2011-12, having successfully transitioned to the college ranks after leading Southridge High School of Beaverton, Ore., to five Oregon large-school classification state titles in a six-year span between 2005 and 2010.

Replacing 14-year veteran Scott Rueck, who had taken over the women’s program at his alma mater, Oregon State University, Meek kept the wheels spinning smoothly at George Fox as he guided the Bruins to a 25-6 overall record and a 14-2 Northwest Conference mark that earned the team a share of its fifth straight conference crown.  After winning the NWC Tournament in overtime over co-champion Lewis & Clark College, the Bruins made their fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament, reaching the “Elite 8” round for the third consecutive year (the 2008-09 team went on to win the Bruins’ first national championship).  George Fox was ranked sixth in the final USA Today/ESPN/Women’s Basketball Coaches of America poll and 12th in the D3hoops.com final poll.

Meek inherited a perennial national power that has now won or shared eight Northwest Conference crowns in the past 12 years, made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, reached the ‘Sweet 16’ six times, the ’Elite 8’ four times, and won the national title in 2008-09 with a perfect 32-0 record.  With every player returning from last year’s team, including West Region Player of the Year Hannah Munger at center and First Team All-Conference wing Keisha Gordon, along with several talented newcomers, the Bruins appear ready for another solid run at the post-season in 2011-12.

Meek began his coaching career at La Grande (Ore.) High School, where he went 51-21 (.708) in three years (1997-2000).  In 10 seasons at Southridge (2000-10), he was 213-58 (.786) for a career record of 264-79 (.770). 

Southridge captured state titles under Meek in the Oregon 4A classification in 2005 and 2006, the highest level in the state at that time, and in the new 6A level in 2007, 2008, and 2010.  The Skyhawks were regularly listed in the USA Today and MaxPreps national rankings, and this past spring were recognized by MaxPreps as one of the top 10 high school programs in the nation.   

Meek earned a slew of coaching awards during his time at Southridge, including the 2006 MaxPrep National Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year.  He was named the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year four times (‘05, ‘06, ‘07, and ’10), and State Coach of the Year by the Oregonian newspaper twice (’05 and ’10).  He was league Coach of the Year six times (’00, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘09, and ’10).  Nineteen of his players have gone on to play college basketball. 

Meek also developed the Nike Northwest Girls’ Basketball Invitational, which attracts some of the top high school teams on the West Coast.  He has published articles in Women’s Basketball magazine, developed three basketball coaching instructional videos, and was a speaker at the Best of the West Coaches Clinics in Seattle, Wash., for three years (2006-08). 

In taking the George Fox position, Meek admitted that “I had had some back-and-forth thoughts about college coaching before, but the George Fox situation was just a perfect fit for me and my family.  What the institution believes in and stands for is what I believe in and stand for as well.  I am confident I can that I can continue the winning tradition that has been established here, because my coaching philosophy is like Coach Rueck’s - it is not as much about wins and losses, about success, as it is about the journey, about relationships, about the process.  If we have hard work, dedication, and commitment, then the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”

“We have hired arguably Oregon’s most successful current high school girls’ basketball coach,” said Craig Taylor, director of athletics at George Fox, when announcing the hiring of Meek. “I can’t imagine a better fit for our university.  We’re excited about his basketball credentials, but we’re also excited about the ways he will invest in the lives of our students off the court as well.”

In addition to his coaching duties, Meek will teach and perform other roles in the department of Health and Human Performance at George Fox. 

A native of Puyallup, Wash., Meek played basketball at Tacoma Community College and Eastern Oregon University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education and health in 1999. He earned his master of arts in teaching from Grand Canyon University in 2004. 

Meek and his wife Lisa reside in Beaverton with their daughters McKelle and Audrey.  The Meeks attend Beaverton Foursquare Church. 

Michael Meek’s Coaching Record

Milestones

1st win - 87-61 vs. Corban, 11/16/2010

Meek vs. All Opponents