Memphis Tigers Women’s Head Coach Katrina Merriweather has resigned from her position after two seasons. In what has been a long Friday for Memphis Athletics with the Jamirah Shutes investigation, things continue to get worse.
The University of Memphis Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Laird Veatch released a statement on Merriweather’s resignation.
“Earlier today, head women's basketball coach Katrina Merriweather informed athletic department leadership and our team that she will be resigning to take a position at another institution. Coach Merriweather has been transparent with us throughout the process over recent days, and she arrived at her decision despite our significant efforts to retain her. She also indicated that this decision was entirely independent from the circumstances surrounding the end of our season. The process of identifying the next leader for Memphis Tiger Women's Basketball will begin immediately.
"We anticipate strong national interest in the opportunity due in part to the significant progress Coach Merriweather and our student-athletes achieved, as well as the ongoing investments we have made in recent years and the tremendous support of Tiger Nation. As displayed with sold-out crowds at our WNIT games last week, Memphis is one of the great basketball cities in America. We look forward to identifying our next leader and continuing our rise to national prominence in women's basketball. We thank Coach Merriweather and her staff and wish them all the best."
Merriweather has decided to accept the head coaching job at the University of Cincinnati. Merriweather attended and graduated from Cincinnati as a player from 1997-2001.
In the two seasons at Memphis, Merriweather has turned the program around with historical seasons and attention. The team won 16 games in the 2021-22 season, which is a major step forward from 4 wins the previous season. Memphis followed that up with 22 wins, a second-place finish in the AAC, and a WNIT berth.
Katrina Merriweather built a short yet impacting legacy giving Memphis their best seasons since the 2011-12 season.
Memphis will look for a new head coach to take the place of Merriweather as she heads to Cincinnati. Fans will be anticipating to see what direction the program heads from this point.
