Cincinnati hired former Memphis coach Katrina Merriweather as its new women’s basketball coach on Saturday.
A starring role for the Bearcats from 1997 to 1997, Meriweather helped the team reach four consecutive postseason tournaments while in school.
Merriweather stepped down as Memphis coach on Friday, a day after the team was eliminated from the WNIT tournament. After the game, one of her players hit her bowling green player in the handshake row and was charged with assault, according to the Falcons’ athletic department.
“I am delighted to be returning to the University of Cincinnati as the head coach of the women’s basketball program,” she said. I’m excited to give back to current players everything I have as much as C-Paw has done for me.This is my home.And I’m excited to wear C-Paw I feel honored.”
Meriweather took over a four-win Memphis team and soon followed with a 16-win season in 2021-22 before a 22-win season that saw the Tigers secure the second seed in the American Athletic Conference Championship. In her two her seasons, the Tigers were her 28-23.
Cincinnati’s director of athletics, John Cunningham, said Meriweather’s “track record of success at both Wright State and Memphis speaks for itself. She is an excellent recruiter, program builder, and talent developer. It was,” he said.
Cincinnati moves from the AAC to the Big 12 on July 1st.
“As a Cincinnati alumnus and one of the most winning players in the school’s history, she knows the potential this program has and what it takes to compete at the top of the Big 12. She’s a perfect fit and I’m thrilled to have her back on the program.”
Prior to coaching Memphis, Meriwether spent five seasons as head coach at Wright State University. There, she took the Raiders to her two NCAA Tournaments, gave No. 4-seeded Arkansas her first NCAA win in 2021, and was named Horizon League Coach of the Year her third time. .
Cincinnati will hold a formal press conference introducing Meriweather on Tuesday.
