When Cevin Meador took over the Chico State men’s basketball program in 2024, the Wildcats didn’t miss a beat. In his debut season, Meador led the team to a 24–7 record, a runner-up finish in the CCAA Tournament, and the program’s third NCAA West Regional berth in four years. His leadership, player development, and high-tempo style have quickly cemented him as one of the rising coaches in the West Region.
Now entering his second season as head coach and fifth year on the Chico State staff, Meador continues to build on the Wildcats’ proud tradition of success. In 2024–25, he guided the team to a 19–3 conference record—the best in program history—and the Wildcats’ best overall mark since 2016–17. The team set a new school record with 13 consecutive victories between November 18 and January 18 while ranking among the CCAA’s top offensive units, leading the conference in scoring (79.4 points per game) and finishing second in both field goal percentage (47.1%) and three-point field goal percentage (35.2%).
Under Meador’s direction, Jojo Murphy earned CCAA Player of the Year, West Region Player of the Year, and Third Team All-America honors from both the NABC and D2CCA. Murphy also became the fourth-fastest player in Chico State history to reach 1,000 career points, achieving the milestone in just 70 games. Meador also coached Isaiah Kerr, an All-CCAA First Team and Academic All-District honoree, and Trae Taylor, who led the entire NCAA (DI, DII, and DIII) in field goal percentage as well as the conference in field goal percentage (73.6%).
Since joining the Wildcats’ coaching staff in 2021, Meador has helped guide the program to an 80–37 record, highlighted by an NCAA West Regional championship, an Elite Eight appearance, and numerous individual accolades including All-Americans, All-Region selections, and multiple CCAA award winners.
Before coming to Chico State, Meador served as an assistant coach at Lewis-Clark State College, helping lead the Warriors to a 22–2 record, a Cascade Collegiate Conference title, and a runner-up finish at the 2021 NAIA National Championships. He previously spent three seasons as the lead assistant at Cal State Monterey Bay and one at Eastern Oregon University, where he helped guide the Mountaineers to a 24–9 record and a Sweet 16 appearance at the NAIA Championships.
A graduate of Eastern Oregon University, Meador began his coaching journey at Boise State, serving as the lead student manager for the Broncos’ Division I program. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2017.
