The tenure of Brandeis men's basketball head coach might just be
the most successful in program history. In his nine years at the
helm with a record of 137-78, he is already the school's
second-winningest coach. Meehan has led the Judges to a 61-51
record in the University Athletic Association, including three
straight second-place finishes from 2007-08 to 2009-10. Meehan led
Brandeis to an unprecedented four-straight NCAA tournament berths
between 2007 and 2010 – including two runs to the Elite Eight
- a national ranking as high as No. 2 in the nation in 2007-08, and
the best start in school history in 2010-11.
At Brandeis, Meehan has coached five 1,000-point scorers; the
program's all-time leaders in assists, games started and games
played; seven first-team All-UAA team members; one UAA Rookie of
the Year; the nation's top 3-point shooter; and the program's first
two All-Americans in 30 years.
Meehan started the program's turnaround in 2004-05 and '05-06,
when the Judges posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first
time since 1990-91 and '91-92 – in just his second and third
years at Brandeis. The squad's 20-7 mark in 2006-07 was its first
20-win season since 1974-75 and marked their first trip back to the
Big Dance since 1978, reaching the second round. After being ranked
23rd in the nation that season, the Judges ascended to
No. 2 in the D3hoops.com poll in 2007-08. In that campaign, the
Judges set a school record with 23 wins, hosted the first two
rounds of the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight,
finishing the season ranked No. 4 in the national poll. In 2008-09,
the Judges led the nation in 3-point shooting and went back to the
second round of the tournament, where a 20-point deficit was nearly
erased against eventual Final Four team Franklin and Marshall. In
2009-10, the Judges returned to the Elite Eight thanks the
winningest class of seniors in school history with 83 victories.
Despite just three returning players in 2010-11, Brandeis got off
to the best start in school history, winning their first 11 games,
including a pair of dramatic buzzer-beaters, en route to the
program's second ECAC Division III title.
Meehan arrived at Brandeis after 10 years at Salem State
College. He served as an assistant coach from 1993 to 1996, when he
became head coach. In his seven years at the helm, Meehan compiled
an outstanding 160-39 record, including 87-10 in conference
play.
Meehan led the Vikings to seven straight Massachusetts State
College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) titles and six NCAA tournament
appearances. In 2000, the team reached the Division III Final Four,
finishing in third place. Meehan earned New England Coach of the
Year honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches
(NABC) and the New England Basketball Coaches Association for his
efforts. During Meehan’s tenure, Salem State produced four
All-Americans and seven first-team All-New England selections. For
his efforts with the Vikings, Meehan was a 2010 inductee into the
Salem State College Hall of Fame.
A native of Worcester, Mass., Meehan is a 1986 graduate of Clark
University. Prior to coaching at Salem State, Meehan served as an
assistant at Fitchburg State College (1991-1993) and at Clark
(1990-1991). He was also head basketball coach at St. Mary’s
High School in Worcester (1986-1990) and served as St. Mary’s
director of athletics from 1988 to 1990.
