Memphis women's basketball coach Katrina Merriweather reflects on successful first season
By any measure, Katrina Merriweather’s first season coaching Memphis women’s basketball was a success after inheriting a program that needed new life.
The Tigers (16-12) had their most wins since winning 18 games in 2015-16 and quadrupled their win total from a season ago. Merriweather, who was hired in March 2021, brought much-needed buzz as the program had its first winning season in six seasons.
A year later, she sees progress not just on the court but in how the Tigers are building the type of sisterhood culture she wanted after arriving from Wright State.
“When I first got here, I knew we had these obstacles that I feel like any first-year coach has when you take over a program just because the kids did not sign up to play for you,” Merriweather said. “There’s a transition you have to be aware of with them and, I just think about how seamless that was versus how it could have been.”
The program's Twitter account shared stats trying to quantify Merriweather’s first season: a 68% increase in attendance from 2019-20 (the last season without restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and a 140% increase in social media engagement.
Merriweather, by her own admission, isn’t super active on social media, so fans didn't learn much about her off-court hobbies or her silver Labrador dog, Bailey. But the buzz she generated has paid off in wins and a change in atmosphere at games.
At Elma Roane Fieldhouse, there’s a DJ and hype man present during games, along with halftime entertainment. It’s led to more fan support that Merriweather has seen since she was an assistant at Purdue in the mid-2000s.
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“I don’t know that I’ve been in a place since Purdue that had a sixth man, and even this environment is different than that environment,” Merriweather said. “This one’s a lot more electric. I don’t think that in Mackey Arena, they’re play ‘Knuck if You Buck.’”
A second-round loss in the AAC Tournament reminded the team that there’s work to do. The staff has added several transfers this offseason.
One is Shelbee Brown, a forward from Northwest Florida State College. Brown prepped at Whitehaven, which means the Tigers will have five Shelby County natives on the roster next season, including freshman signee Serena Lee.
Merriweather is proud of what she established so far. She’s also happy to not just have support from administration but also men’s basketball coach Penny Hardaway and football coach Ryan Silverfield.
Both, she said, have made sure she’s recognized at events they’re at. It’s made her feel welcome and empowered to continue adding to what she’s done so far.
The next step is adding more wins and getting back to the postseason for the first time since 2015-16. But one year in, Merriweather has found herself at home, eager to keep building with the same passion she started with 14 months ago.
“That’s kind of the full circle for me," she said. "This extreme gratitude having an opportunity to coach here and coach those young women, thankful for the way they embraced me and the staff, and hungry to get going again."
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis women's basketball coach Katrina Merriweather reflects on season
