Gene Steinmeyer, the second winningest women’s basketball coach in Northwest Missouri State history, announced his retirement today after 13 seasons at the head of the Bearcat bench. “The players and coaches have made my stay at Northwest the best of my career,” Steinmeyer said, who will turn 62 in March. “I wish I could have brought more consistent success to women’s basketball. I pledge to help the new coach in any way possible. I want the women’s basketball program to reach new heights.”
Steinmeyer retires with 189 wins at Northwest, the second most behind Wayne Winstead’s 311. The two-time MIAA Coach of the Year closes out his career at Northwest just one year removed from one of the most successful seasons in Bearcat women’s basketball history. Steinmeyer, who started his tenure at Northwest Missouri in 2000, guided the Bearcats to three MIAA Tournament Championships (2004, 2008 and 2011) and one MIAA regular season title in 2011. He helped lead Northwest to the postseason in nine of his 13 seasons as the Bearcats head coach.
During his time at Northwest, Steinmeyer guided the Bearcats to four NCAA Regional Tournaments (2004, 2007-2008, and 2011) and one Final Four appearance (2011). After a 4-22 record in his first season Northwest went on to finish with a .500 record or better in six seasons including a pair of 20-win seasons.