"We're all here for a purpose, and I think coach Meyer's found his purpose. And he's touching and influencing so many lives."
Since surpassing Bob Knight as the winningest coach in NCAA men's basketball history, Don Meyer has received congratulations from many of his friends. Those friends also happen to be some of the biggest names in basketball.
One of those friends is Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, regarded as one of the best coaches in college basketball. He's won a national title, made four Elite Eight appearances, nine Sweet Sixteens and won 422 career games. Fewer than half as many as Don Meyer.
"That's what makes this such a great accomplishment," Smith said. "You think about all the great coaches." Coaches who now look up at Meyer on the all-time wins list. And not only find his body of work exceptional, but the story of what he's been through inspirational.
"Not just to me, but to so many," Smith said. "We're all here for a purpose, and I think coach Meyer's found his purpose. And he's touching and influencing so many lives."
The fact that Meyer knows how to treat his players is a big reason for all the success he's had.
"The accident happened when he was taking his team on a retreat," Smith said. "That alone tells you. I mean, how many coaches would do that? I'll just tell you. There are very few."
Smith is once again having an exceptional season. At 15-1, his Gophers are off to the best start in school history. And what does he talk about to inspire his team? Don Meyer.
"My team knows about coach Meyer and the challenges that he's going through and the struggles he may go through," Smith said. "But he's still getting the job done."
Smith says Meyer may have won 903 games, but his impact on college basketball extends far beyond that.
While Meyer is now the winningest men's basketball coach in NCAA history, he's still chasing another one of his friends for the overall mark. Tennessee's Pat Summit currently has 995 wins.
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