In the winter of 2019, and for the first time in 15 years, Michael Meyers wasn’t on the sideline coaching a basketball team at the high school or college level. Instead, he spent the better part of the last two years coaching his daughter’s AAU team.
While Meyers is grateful for the opportunity to coach his daughter and her teammates – and witness their growth as players – that experience gave him the “itch” to return to coaching at a higher level. 
“The pandemic turned a lot of things upside down, but I was able to coach my daughter, and for me, that was very special,” Meyers said. “It also gave me time to reflect a bit and wait for the right spot at the right time to open up. For me, that’s Westmoreland.”
Meyers, a four-time winning section championship coach, was officially named the next head coach of the Westmoreland Boys Varsity Basketball team by the Westmoreland Board of Education on September 14. It’s an opportunity he’s extremely excited about, and he can’t wait to sport the school’s green and white.
“The Westmoreland Boys Varsity Basketball program has a strong history of success,” Meyers said. “When the head coach position became available, I knew it would be the perfect fit.”
At only 42 years old, Meyers already has extensive basketball coaching experience. He has coached both boys and girls and has coached at the modified, junior varsity, varsity and college level. His coaching career started in 2004 at the Canton Central School District, where he was the Boys’ Modified Basketball head coach and led the eighth grade team to an undefeated 14-0 record during his lone season at the helm. From 2005-2006, he was the Boys’ JV Basketball head coach at the Heuvelton Central School District; from 2006-2016, he was the Girls’ Varsity Basketball head coach at the Canton Central School District, where he won four consecutive section championships from 2012-2016 and advanced to the Class B New York State Final Four in 2016; and from 2016-2019, he was the Boys’ Varsity Basketball head coach at the New York Mills Union Free School District. He also served as an assistant on the 2004-2005 SUNY Canton Men’s Basketball team under Head Coach Nevada Smith, who currently is an assistant coach for the Division I Marquette University Men’s Basketball team.
Despite all of his travels, Meyers says Westmoreland may be his best stop yet.
In addition to inheriting an experienced team filled with talent, Meyers is reunited with Westmoreland Athletic Director Mike Adey, former longtime New York Mills Boys Varsity Basketball head coach and winningest basketball coach in New York State Section III history.
Meyers took over for Adey when he retired as New York Mills Boys Varsity Basketball head coach in 2016.
“Although I had seen his teams play many times, I never met him or got to know him until my interview process at New York Mills,” Meyers said of Adey. “He was so helpful during the entire process and, once I was hired, he was always willing to let me pick his brain or answer any questions I had. That meant a lot to me as a new coach at a new school.”
For Adey, the feeling is mutual. He’s been a fan of Meyers since the day he met him at his interview at New York Mills.
“I was immediately impressed with his basketball IQ and how much he already knew about New York Mills,” Adey said. “He relates well with kids, has an open mind when it comes to coaching and I thought he did an excellent job taking over the New York Mills Boys Varsity Basketball program and making it his own. I expect nothing less here at Westmoreland. I’m excited to work with him.”
In fact, Meyers and Adey get along so well that Meyers convinced Adey to come out of coaching retirement – sort of.
Adey worked with the Westmoreland Boys Varsity Basketball team over the summer and plans on helping out Meyers at some practices during the upcoming season. If his duties as athletic director don’t interfere, Adey may even be on the bench for home games.
“While it was an honor to succeed Coach Adey at New York Mills, I never got to coach with him,” Meyers said. “But, now, he’s actually here with me at the same school and I’m looking forward to working with him side-by-side, along with the entire coaching staff.”
A chance to, perhaps, capture another title.
“I know the expectations are high heading into the season,” Meyers chimed. “However, expectations can only be realized with a lot of hard work, dedication and the right attitude. That’s going to be a big part of my message and the way I coach.”