PEORIA, IL – A proven leader with 16 years of head coaching experience and a track record of program success, Marquette University assistant coach Chaia (KY-ah) Meier has been named the 11th head coach in Bradley University Women's Basketball history, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Chris Reynolds announced.

"Throughout this search, Chaia quickly distinguished herself as the right person to lead our program forward," said Reynolds. "As a Central Illinois native, she brings a strong connection to this region and a clear understanding of what it takes to excel at Bradley. Chaia has demonstrated success as both a head coach and assistant, consistently developing student-athletes and building competitive programs. She is the ideal leader for Bradley Women's Basketball and will create a premier student-athlete experience that positions our program for sustained success."

"My family and I are thrilled to join the Bradley community and return to Central Illinois, a place that we consider home," Meier said. "I want to thank Chris Reynolds and Jen Jones for the opportunity to lead this program and these young women. Bradley Women's Basketball is primed to take the next step and I am honored to be entrusted with that challenge."

Meier joins Bradley after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Marquette University. During her time at Marquette, Meier played a key role in the development of multiple all-conference performers. Junior forward Skylar Forbes earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors in 2024-25 and 2025-26, along with All-Defensive Team recognition in 2025-26. Graduate guard Lee Volker was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, while junior guard Halle Vice earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors in 2025-26.

Prior to her time at Marquette, Meier orchestrated a sustained turnaround at Edgewood University in Madison, Wisconsin, transforming the program into a consistent contender over her eight seasons (2016-24). After building the foundation in her first year, Meier guided the Eagles through one of the most successful stretches in program history, culminating in her becoming the winningest coach in Edgewood program history.

Meier's teams also excelled in the classroom, earning WBCA Academic Top 25 honors in multiple seasons, reflecting her commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the court.

Before Edgewood, Meier held head coaching positions at Grace University (2015-16) and her alma mater, Moody Bible Institute (2009-15), after beginning her collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Dominican University (2007-09).

A native of Normal, Illinois, Meier earned her bachelor's degree in theology from Moody Bible Institute in 2004, completed all but the thesis for a master's degree in kinesiology from Texas Woman's University in 2007 and a master's degree in organizational leadership from Edgewood University in 2019. Meier and her husband, Josh, are the parents of two children, Molly (16) and Lincoln (13).

Cara Consuegra, Head Coach of Marquette University Women's Basketball: "Chaia Meier is the kind of coach every program hopes to find — someone who is not only exceptional at what she does on the court, but an even better person off of it. She understands what it takes to build a program the right way and to win consistently. Chaia invests deeply in people — she builds genuine relationships, cares about the growth and development of her players, and creates a culture that lasts. She's incredibly loyal, and that shows in the trust and respect she earns everywhere she goes. Bradley is getting a tremendous leader who will elevate the program in every way."