KANKAKEE – After serving seven seasons as an Assistant Coach for KCC’s Lady Cavaliers Basketball Team, Casey Hadley Meister will take control of the program beginning next October.
In a press release Tuesday, Kankakee Community College announced the former Division 1 athlete and KCC player as the college’s next Head Coach.
“With her experiences as a player and assistant coach, Casey is a natural fit for our players and our department,” said KCC Athletic Director Todd Post. “Casey brings valuable experiences and game strategy. She also has a good rapport with students and is able to develop their talents on the court and in the classroom.”
Meister will additionally serve as KCC’s Assistant Athletic Director, replacing Donnie Denson a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame who won his 500th game last month for the program.
Denson plans to retire at the end of September.
“KCC holds a special place in my heart, and I am thankful for the path that led me here,” said Meister. “Thanks to Athletic Director Todd Post for this opportunity and Coach Denson for his belief in me and my vision for the program. Everyone knows about the Lady Cavalier’s successes, but not everyone knows what it is like to put that jersey on and play for such a prestigious program. As an alum, I am excited to embrace the legacy of the program and build relationships within the athletic department.”
Meister was named to two All-State teams while at Reed-Custer High School and played for the Lady Cavaliers basketball team from 2004-06. At KCC, Meister was selected for the All-Region team (2005 & 2006) and was MVP of the NJCAA Division II Region IV Tournament in 2006. She earned NJCAA All-American honors in 2005 and 2006 and played in the national tournament in 2006. She later continued her career with Chicago State University and Olivet Nazarene University.
Meister was inducted into Region IV Hall of Fame in 2019.
