The new era in Cavs Basketball began taking shape around 4:57pm Wednesday.
After the Chillicothe City School Board finished preliminary business, the attention at Hatton Gym turned to filling the Boys Basketball vacancy. In attendance to accept the position, Drew Meister who told those in gym "When you have a 'calm' about you, you know you've got the right fit."
The new Cavs Hoops coach has six seasons under his belt as a head coach, but his career has taken him from his playing days at Claymont High School in the Northeast Ohio to Georgia's LaGrange College, first as a player, then began to cut his teeth on coaching at the NAIA college level. He landed his first high school coaching position at Newark Catholic where in five seasons he led the Green Wave to the Division IV championship game, falling short to Oak Hill in Columbus. 
After finishing 6-15 at Canton South last February, the path has brought Meister to Chillicothe. He watched the Cavaliers win the state championship in 2008 and it made an early impression on him. He says he's "learning in a rather short span, just how valued the pride and everything that is associated with basketball excellence is ingrained here in this program, in this district, in this community... it's such an exciting feature."
He also respects the coaching fraternity and was emphatic in acknowledging the work done by his Cavalier successor Coach Gary Kellough. "I understand the sacrifices that everybody makes... and what Coach Kellough has done, that's priceless. Coach was able to get to the highest level, and reach the pinnacle, lay some ground work that I'm going to reap the benefits of, that's something I truly want to note and address to the community..." In his comments to the audience, Meister said "I expect to be here in 2018 when we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Coach (Kellough) and those players."
There were several Cavalier varsity players on hand, among them Zach Johnson, Isaiah Johnson, Adam Bixler, Tim Beard, Nolan Taylor who have anxiously awaited who their new leader would be.
Johnson (Isaiah) said "I was excited to meet the new coach... pretty anxious, and ready to play some open gym."
When asked what the players have been doing in the interim, Adam Bixler said "We've been playing together in the park, playing in some open gyms, just trying to stick together and play."
In addressing the seniors, Coach Meister noted "That anticipation and anxiety is over... we're gonna get after it. It's gonna be an upstream battle, but it'll be worth it when you reach the top."
In his introduction, Athletic Director Garin Veris acknowledged "We've found the right man for the job..." and echoing Meister's belief "in a style of play that is disciplined and dedicated to a team first attitude built on an attacking defense and balanced offense. This style is one that we will embrace at Chillicothe High School and one that wins championships."
Click Here to hear Dan Ramey's interview with Drew Meister
CAREER HEAD COACHING RECORD:
2011-12 Canton South H.S. 6-15
2010-11 Newark Catholic H.S. 17-8
2009-10 Newark Catholic H.S. 25-2
2008-09 Newark Catholic H.S. 21-5
2007-08 Newark Catholic H.S. 9-13
2006-07 Newark Catholic H.S. 2-19
