When Coach Kristy Curry hired Katrina Merriweather as an assistant this spring, the Boilermaker boss tapped into a family rich in history of Purdue athletics.

While Merriweather herself didn’t have a previous affiliation with Purdue, both her father and grandfather played basketball in West Lafayette.

Her grandfather, Willie Merriweather, was named an All-American at Purdue in 1959. The 6-foot-5 forward from Indianapolis Crispus Attucks High School played for the Boilermakers from 1957-59. He averaged 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds during his career, topped by his senior season marks of 20.8 points and 7.9 boards per game.

Katrina’s father, Kevin, also played basketball at Purdue, although his contributions were only in practice. Kevin Merriweather has since made a name for himself as a prominent AAU coach, guiding The Family, a girls basketball program based in Indianapolis.

He has historically coached many of Indiana’s top players, including the likes of Ashley Allen (Ohio State), Jacqueline Batteast (Notre Dame), Shyra Ely (Tennessee), Shalicia Hurns (Purdue/Rutgers) and Sharika Webb (Purdue). Kevin also recently coached for one year at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. During his one year with the Warriors, he coached Boilermaker Ashley Mays during her junior season.

Gold & Black Illustrated caught up with Kevin Merriweather this summer to get his thoughts on various topics, from his daughter’s hiring at Purdue to some up-and-coming talents on his AAU team.

Merriweather: "It’s a tremendous opportunity for her to be at Purdue and it’s extremely special because she’s my daughter.

"It’s special when you consider that she’s a young black female coach in the game with the opportunity to be at one of the top five programs in the country and only be 23-24 years old. Some people have said they are concerned about ‘Trina moving up the coaching ranks this fast, but she had a friend tell her, ‘You’ve been groomed for this all your life.’ I think she’s just starting to understand that."

Merriweather: "When I met Kristy after she first came to Purdue I was extremely impressed with her. My relationship with Kristy has been great. She’s a tremendous family person who is very sincere. She has a family attitude, and being called The Family, I guess we’re just a good fit. Given the chance, I wouldn’t have wanted ‘Trina to play for anybody other than Kristy Curry."

Merriweather: "I walked on at Purdue when Lee Rose was the coach there. I was a pre-vet major at Purdue. They had a team they called the Renegades, which was a practice team. I played on that team with Jim Rowinski before he got big and muscular. When Rose left he offered me the chance to go with him to South Florida. At that time ‘Trina was a 1-year-old. (Billy) Keller went to the University of Indianapolis, and I chose to go with Keller. So I finished up my career there."

Merriweather: "TaShea is actually cousins with ‘Trina. TaShea is probably a throwback to a true center. She has a hook shot, doesn’t try to wander too far from the basket and knows what her job is. You could compare her to some of the old, tough centers in the NBA — someone like Moses Malone, who loved to do the dirty work down low."

Merriweather: "Amber is unlike TaShea. I’ve heard Amber be compared to the Kevin Garnett of the women’s game. She’s probably going to develop a new position. She’s probably a natural (small forward) although she can play anywhere from (point guard) to (center). She can play five positions; she just has to decide what she wants to do.

"Every player has to have a go-to shot or move, and I don’t think Amber has decided what that’s going to be yet; whether it be a jump shot or sweep hook across the middle. She can do anything.

"She’s a tremendous athlete with great potential. She has been dunking the ball for more than a year. She’s a very special athlete, she’s just got to learn how to develop that gift and work hard. She could probably be one of the best players to ever play the game, but a lot of other people have that potential and never fully develop it."

Merriweather: "’Trina is a mentor for the program. All of the kids like Shyra Ely, Shalicia Hurns and all the others have looked to her for answers about life, not just about basketball. She’s developed a very special rapport with some of the players and I’m sure that makes Purdue a school that they will seriously consider.

"But neither Jackie Batteast, Shyra Ely or Ashley Allen went to Purdue. I’m not one to delegate where players go to college. If I were to do that, I’d want them all to go to Purdue. But the great thing about Kristy is, she has never treated me any differently when those players she’s recruited have gone elsewhere."

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