Merriweather Named Wright State Head Women's Basketball Coach

Katrina Merriweather, an assistant coach at WSU for the past six seasons, has been named the head women’s basketball coach, Wright State University director of athletics Bob Grant announced Tuesday.

"Trina has been part of the Raider family for six years and has had a major impact on our women's basketball program and the unprecedented success they have achieved during that time,” Grant said.  “She not only fits perfectly into our culture, she has helped define our culture in those six years.  Trina has a rare mix of talent, experience and personality that I think will make her a tremendous head coach."

Teaming with former WSU head coach Mike Bradbury, Merriweather helped guide the Raiders to 128 wins over the last six years, advancing to post-season tournaments in five of those years.  WSU played in the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) in 2011 and 2012, the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) in 2015 and 2016.

“I am excited beyond words for the opportunity to be the head coach at Wright State," Merriweather said.  "This is a very special program that has come a long way and I am proud to be entrusted to continue what Mike Bradbury has started.  I was taught early in my coaching career that it's the people who make a place special and I have been fortunate to be surrounded with amazingly loyal, talented and supportive people who believe in the importance of the overall student-athlete experience."

"I want to thank President Hopkins and Bob Grant for believing in the values and vision that I hold dear," added Merriweather.  "It is my goal to continue to bring in quality staff and student-athletes that will represent the University on and off the court."

A former assistant at Purdue, UIC and Cincinnati, Merriweather joined the Wright State women's basketball coaching staff in September 2010.  The Raiders reached new heights in 2010-11, playing in its first Division I post-season tournament with two games in the Women's Basketball Invitational and securing the program's first 20-win in Division I.

During her time at WSU, she was the lead recruiter, producing nine All-Horizon League Players and the last three League Players of the Year.

At Purdue in 2004, Merriweather assisted the Boilermakers in a 29-4 campaign, a season that saw Purdue win the Big Ten Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. She also played a major role in recruiting a five-player class rated in many scouting services' top 10.  The following year also saw a top 10 rating by Blue Star Basketball and another trip to the NCAA Tournament.  In 2006, Purdue advanced to the Sweet 16 once again.

Merriweather's recruiting success carried over the following year, as she helped sign a class rated in the top 10 by Blue Star Basketball. While she was scouring gyms nationwide, Merriweather also filled her role in Mackey Arena, helping guide one of the youngest teams in Purdue history to a 17-win season and an NCAA Tournament berth.

Before coming to Purdue, Merriweather served as an assistant coach for a year at UIC.  Merriweather began her collegiate coaching career at Cincinnati, her alma mater. As a graduate assistant during the 2001-02 season, Merriweather handled scouting and film duties. The Bearcats posted a 26-5 record that year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

A native of Indianapolis, Merriweather graduated from Cincinnati in 2001 with a degree in English literature and earned a second degree in secondary education in 2002. Under head coach Laurie Pirtle, the Bearcats advanced to postseason play all four years during Merriweather's career, competing in the NCAA Tournament in 1999 and the WNIT in 1998, 2000 and 2001. During her career, Cincinnati posted an 83-41 record.

Along with her college coaching career, Merriweather has also coached AAU basketball for The Family, Inc., based in Indianapolis, and has served as a summer camp coach at several universities.

A 1997 graduate from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, Merriweather was a member of the 1997 Indiana All-Star Team.