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Dunn and Mahoney Out; Meyer In

A coaching shakeup had been rumored for a week or so but now it’s official. Assistant coaches John Mahoney and Jerry Dunn are out. Jeff Meyer, who took over for Dunn late in the season, will remain on the staff.

Here’s the release:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — University of Michigan coach John Beilein announced today (Friday, April 9) that Jeff Meyer will move permanently into an assistant coaching role following his elevation midway through the 2009-10 season. In addition, Beilein announced associate head coach Jerry Dunn and assistant coach John Mahoney will be leaving the program to pursue other collegiate coaching opportunities.

“I have a clear vision of where I want this program to go and how I would like to complete my coaching staff,” said Beilein regarding the vacancy. “I see this change as a unique opportunity to add another highly qualified individual to our Michigan Basketball program.”

“I have decided to continue Jeff Meyer’s role as an assistant coach,” added Beilein. “He did an incredible job filling in this season and will be a tremendous asset in our recruiting efforts in the footprint of the Big Ten. Jeff is a great teacher of the game and I look forward to his presence on and off the floor next season. “

Meyer joined the Wolverine Basketball staff as an administrative assistant two seasons ago and was elevated to assistant coach midway through the 2009-10 season following a leave of absence by Jerry Dunn for personal family reasons.

Meyer has over 31 years experience in collegiate basketball, with 16 of those seasons coming as a head coach at Liberty (1981-97). He had assistant coaching stops at Indiana (2006-08), Missouri (2004-06), Butler (2001-04), South Florida (1980-81) and Purdue (1978-80), as well as an associate head coaching position at Winthrop (1998-2001). Throughout his coaching career, Meyer has been a part of nine NCAA Tournament and four NIT postseason appearances.

“Jerry Dunn has been a successful head coach in the past and would like to do so again,” said Beilein. “He is now going to put all of his efforts toward that goal. I have worked with Jerry for seven years and appreciate his many contributions to the success of our programs. He will continue to work with me on several administrative tasks until the end of the April.”

“I want to be a head coach again and the only way to be fair to the program is to pursue these opportunities with my entire focus,” said Dunn. “I have enjoyed spending the past seven years with John. We have had a lot of success together and I have learned a great deal during that time. Michigan has made great strides getting back to the tournament but it is time to move on and pursue my goal. My time with the Michigan Family has been enjoyable and I wish our program and the university nothing but success.”

Dunn worked alongside Beilein the last seven years as his associate head coach, both at Michigan and West Virginia. Dunn is known most for his work in the Big Ten, spending 20 years at Penn State, including eight as head coach of the Nittany Lions. Four of Dunn’s PSU teams reached postseason play, twice at the NCAA Tournament (1996 and 2001) and on two occasions in the NIT (1998 and 2000). He led the Nittany Lions to the championship game of the 1998 NIT and guided the program to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2001.

“John Mahoney is one of the hardest working coaches in the business,” said Beilein. “He is a tireless recruiter and I am confident he will prove to be a valuable asset wherever he coaches next year. We wish him nothing but the best in the future and thank him for his loyalty and commitment to our program.”

“I wish to thank Coach Beilein, the players and everyone at the University of Michigan for giving me the opportunity over the last three years to continue to not only grow as a person, but as a coach,” said Mahoney. “It’s never easy to leave a program that you have worked so hard to build, but I am looking forward to this next progression of my career and my pursuit of becoming a collegiate head coach.”

Mahoney worked the past five seasons with Beilein at Michigan and West Virginia. He was an assistant coach the last three years at U-M and was West Virginia’s Director of Basketball Operations for two seasons before coming to Ann Arbor. In his 22-year coaching career, Mahoney had assistant coaching stops at Duquesne (2001-05) and Robert Morris (1998-2001). Before entering the Division I coaching ranks, Mahoney was the head coach at Mount Aloysius College (1994-98) and began his coaching career as the boys’ head coach at Our Lady of Sacred Heart High School (1986-94).

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