Arizona's women's basketball program announced that head coach Becky Burke has added Emily Meinert to her staff as a performance enhancement assistant coach. The move is intended to deepen the team's focus on athletic development and injury prevention.
Meinert comes to Tucson after two seasons with the New Mexico women's basketball team, where she specialized in strength and conditioning for the program. Her work there helped shape the team's physical preparation and contributed to notable improvements in player durability.
Before her stint at New Mexico, Meinert served as a graduate assistant and assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Louisiana Monroe. In that role she supported not only the women's basketball squad but also softball, men's and women's golf teams, overseeing training protocols across multiple sports.
Meinert's playing career includes three years at Northern Illinois and two at Parkland College. She earned a master's degree in applied exercise science from UL Monroe, blending academic insight with hands‑on coaching experience.
What the Move Means for the Wildcats
The addition of Meinert is expected to elevate Arizona's approach to player development, bringing a blend of strength training expertise and a player‑first mindset. Coach Burke highlighted the hire as a strategic step toward maintaining competitiveness in a demanding conference, noting that Meinert's background aligns with the program's long‑term goals.