Former Bison Coach Don Meyer critically injured in accident

Kim Chaudoin | 

Update: Sept. 7, 2008 -- According to a statement by Bob Olson, Northern State University’s athletic director, former Bison basketball coach Don Meyer has had three surgeries since being injured in a five-vehicle crash Friday evening. His condition has stabilized and Meyer is expected to remain in the hospital for the next few weeks.


Former Lipscomb University men's basketball head coach Don Meyer was hospitalized Friday evening with life-threatening injuries after an automobile accident, according to a release by the South Dakota State Police Department. Meyer is the head coach of Northern State University's men's basketball team.

According to a South Dakota Department of Public Safety news release, the vehicle Meyer was driving crossed the center line on Highway 20 near Chelsea in Faulk County, South Dakota and struck a semi-tractor trailer. According to a law enforcement report log, the accident occurred at 5:10 p.m. He was airlifted to a hospital in Sioux Falls, NSU athletic director Bob Olson said in a released statement.

Meyer, 63, was on his way to a basketball retreat with his team. Team members were following Meyer in other vehicles, Olson said. Meyer was the ony person injured in the accident.

Meyer has compiled an 891-299 record in his 36 seasons of coaching and need just 12 wins to overtake Bobby Knight as the men's college basketball coach with the most career wins. Meyer coached the Bisons for 24 years and led the team to an NAIA national championship in 1986. In 1999 Meyer was named the head coach at Northern State, an NCAA Division II program.