Canes’ coach Meier calls it quits too soon after 19 years of winning, class

Katie Meier announced her retirement as Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball coach on Thursday, a day that should have found her courtside again at practice, preparing her team for its first-round game in the NCAA Tournament.

Her Canes reached the Elite Eight one year ago, a program first, and this season went 19-12, were expected to be invited by all forecasts and logic, should have been, but got unjustly snubbed on Sunday. UM was quickly invited to be a top seed in the secondary WNIT tournament but declined.

And so it ends. After 19 seasons. And too soon.

Meier’s sudden retirement was her idea, and it came as a surprise; she had four years left on her contract. UM men‘s coach Jim Larrañaga retiring at 74 would have been much less a surprise. Meier is only 56. It is a major loss for UM athletics, although she will remain at the school in a special advisor/ambassador role with an emphasis on fundraising for women’s sports.

Though the NCAA cheated her of one last tournament run, she leaves on her terms, on her timetable, and with our appreciation and great respect.

Befitting her character, she left not with a shot at the NCAA selection committee, but with thanks.

“Nineteen years ago I was offered my