Saturday, January 10, 2009

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) -Four months after a car accident nearly killed Don Meyer, the former Lipscomb coach passed Bob Knight as college basketball's all-time winningest men's coach.

Northern State University's 82-62 win over Mary on Saturday night gave Meyer his 903rd victory.

His .750 winning percentage (903-301) was compiled at three universities in a career that began in 1972 and nearly ended last September in a car accident that sent him to the hospital for 55 days, forced doctors to amputate his lower left leg and led to the discovery of a slow-growing cancer.

Coaching from the sidelines in a wheelchair, the 64-year-old Wayne, Neb. native moved past Knight.

"I haven't had this much fun since Carmen and I were married," he told the capacity crowd.

He said he was grateful for the people who had helped his family during the recovery.

"And I want to thank this group of guys for hanging with me during a difficult time," he said.

Taped remarks from legendary UCLA coach John Wooden were played after the game. The university plans a formal celebration on Jan. 17 to mark the record.

Meyer was critically injured on Sept. 5 when his compact car collided with a loaded grain truck west of this university town of 25,000. Alone in his car, his was the first of several vehicles taking the team to an annual weekend retreat when he either fell asleep or was distracted.

Assistant coaches and team members rushed to his aid.

"He was making some crazy sounds because he got the wind knocked out of him times a million," fifth-year senior Kevin Ratzsch said of the accident.

"We were holding his hand, keeping him fighting because he was wanting to call it quits, but he kept fighting."