Coach Jim White shares importance of patience at 2015 Don Meyer Evening of Excellence

Lipscomb University held its Don Meyer Evening of Excellence Saturday night to recognize the journey of coach Jim White, who is the subject of the Disney movie McFarland USA. The Don Meyer Evening of Excellence is named after the legendary former Lipscomb basketball coach who passed away in May of 2014 after a battle to cancer. Meyer coached at Hamline University for three years, Lipscomb for 24 years and Northern State for 11 years and finished with a career record of 923-324 in 38 seasons. Over the last six years, Lipscomb has had speakers that include Coach Meyer, former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, Phil, Si and Kay Robertson from Duck Dynasty and “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks. The evening in Allen Arena was filled with Lipscomb donors, athletes and family of the soon-to-be graduated seniors. White coached McFarland High School to nine cross country state championships in 14 years. Most of White’s runners were the children of immigrant field workers, as McFarland is one of the poorest cities in California. White shared some advice of his well-rounded programs with Lipscomb’s athletes. “No one can tell you that you won’t achieve something, because I just turned around and did it anyway,” White said. “You must continue to do right the things that you know how, and be patient. It’s a process — it cannot be built over night. “You have to have that drive in all aspects of life and especially for the student athletes who continue to work hard on and off the field.” Lipscomb alum Keith Hayes was impressed by the work put...

Don Meyer biopic ‘My Many Sons’ begins filming at Lipscomb

Filming for the upcoming movie “My Many Sons” will be taking place on Lipscomb’s campus until August 16. The film will detail the life of the late, legendary Lipscomb basketball coach Don Meyer. Production of the movie will continue in various locations across Nashville over the coming weeks, as well as Aberdeen, South Dakota, the location of Northern State, where Meyer coached for over a decade. Former Lipscomb student-athlete Casey Bond is heading the project. Bond, whose Bison baseball career led to a stint in the Minor Leagues, starred in the Oscar-nominated film Moneyball in 2011. “My Many Sons” depicts the relationships that Meyer forged with his players throughout his career and the impact he had on generations of young people. This story is not about wins or records, but rather about Coach’s relationships with players and their families,” Casey Bond told Lipscomb University, “It’s about how one man took the time to build character in young people, which is something we desperately need in our world today. Coach Meyer made the most of a very difficult situation in his life and ran with it.” Bond will be joined in his producer role by longtime Hollywood producer Brad Wilson. The two will be producing the film under their production company Higher Purpose Entertainment. Bond will also be playing the role of Don Meyer’s son Jerry in the film. He will be joined in the cast by former Oscar winner Tatum O’Neal as Carmen Meyer. Veteran Hollywood actor Judge Reinhold will be taking on the lead role of Don Meyer. The film will offer students of the newly created Film...

Court named in honor of legendary coach

Legendary coach Don Meyer now has his name on the court inside Allen Arena. With a coaching record of 655-179 in 24 years of coaching the Bisons, Meyer is undoubtedly the biggest name in Lipscomb sports history. It’s only fitting that his name be on the court in Allen. Though Meyer never coached a game inside the arena, the court will forever carry his name. “For all he has done on the court and all he has done with the records and accomplishments, this is what it is all about,” said Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson. “For the first time, and for everyone here, the court is officially yours.” Meyer, who is hardly ever overwhelmed, was very gracious about the court’s naming in his honor. “I want to thank God for letting me have enough time to see all thee guys for another time,” Meyer said, speaking to the nearly 70 former players that attended the ceremony. “That means a whole lot more than anything else.” Meyer’s family also joined him on the court, which was also fitting because one of Meyer’s biggest points during his career was to love those around you – especially family. “I have been very lucky to have had the family I have had,” Meyer said. “They made a lot of sacrifices to be a coach’s family.” Meyer was humbled by the day, and it self-admittedly made him tired. However, Meyer was still colorful as ever. “McQuiddy was the kind of gym that if you had 11 people in it was loud as the Boston Garden,” Meyer said. “McQuiddy was special.” Meyer has retired...

Court inside Allen Arena to be named after legendary coach Don Meyer

It was officially announced today that the court inside Allen Arena would be named after legendary coach Don Meyer. Coach Meyer, a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and ESPY award winner, coached at Lipscomb from 1975-1999. He is also the winningest men’s coach in NCAA basketball history. Please upgrade your browser Since his retirment from the game in 2010, Coach Meyer has been traveling doing coaching clinics, seminars and promoting his book, “How Lucky You Can Be,” written with ESPN analyst Buster Olney. The court will be named on Saturday Dec. 3 when the Bisons play host to Kennesaw State. We’ll have more on this developing story,...

Tar Heels, Stillman games keep Bisons out of ESPN’s Meyer Classic; Game at Belmont coincides with book publication

ESPN had hoped an exhibition basketball game it was planning to promote a book written about former Lipscomb basketball coach Don Meyer by one of the network’s reporters would be played at Allen Arena. But, because the Bisons had other commitments — including a game against Stillman College and a trip to the “Dean Dome” to play North Carolina — during the same time period, the inaugural Don Meyer Classic is going to be played at the Curb Event Center and feature Lipscomb’s rivals, Belmont University. The plan, as put forward by the author, ESPN baseball analyst Buster Olney — who covered Lipscomb and Belmont during his stint at the Nashville Banner — was to have the classic pit two of Meyer’s former basketball teams — LU and Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D. — against each other. The game is to be played on Nov. 9, the date the book, How Lucky You Can Be:  The Story of Coach Don Meyer , is to be published by ESPN Books. For last few years, Olney has been working on the book about Meyer’s life.  Meyer received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the  2009 ESPYs for his courage after cancer was discovered in his body during surgery to remove a leg after he was in a near-fatal car wreck in 2008. His will to win on and off the court is chronicled in the book about the coach who has victories by any men’s coach in NCAA basketball history. He is also known for his influential coaching style and his five C’s to a successful team: Concentration, Courtesy, Communication, Competition and Consistency. It was a matter of logistics and the determination to fulfill a previous commitment that had Lipscomb...