Legendary Arizona basketball player, local coach Ed Nymeyer dies at 89

Nymeyer coached Flowing Wells High School's boys basketball and volleyball teams to state titles

Mar. 18, 2026 at 12:54pm

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Ed Nymeyer, a legendary figure in Arizona athletics who coached Flowing Wells High School's boys basketball and volleyball teams to state titles, has passed away at the age of 89 from an illness. Nymeyer was a three-sport standout at the University of Arizona in the late 1950s and held the school's career scoring record at the time. He went on to have a long coaching career at Flowing Wells, guiding the boys basketball team to state championships in 1962-63 and 1967-68, and the girls volleyball team to a state title in 1991.

Why it matters

Nymeyer was a beloved figure in the Tucson community, known for his lifelong support of local education, fine arts, and athletics. His passing comes after the recent death of another Flowing Wells legend, former wrestling coach and athletic director Pat Weber, highlighting the loss of influential figures in the region's sports history.

The details

Nymeyer, who spent 36 years at Flowing Wells as a coach and educator, is inducted in the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Pima County Sports Hall of Fame, and Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. He was the last athlete at Arizona to letter in three varsity sports — basketball, golf, and track. Nymeyer's granddaughter, Lacey Nymeyer, is also inducted in the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame as a swimmer, with a decorated career that included two individual national championships and eight relay national championships.

  • Nymeyer passed away in 2026 at the age of 89.
  • Nymeyer's wife, Donna Joyce Nymeyer, passed away in 2023 at the age of 86.

The players

Ed Nymeyer

A legendary figure in Arizona athletics who coached Flowing Wells High School's boys basketball and volleyball teams to state titles.

Donna Joyce Nymeyer

Nymeyer's wife, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 86. She was a teacher and accomplished musician in the Tucson community.

Ernie McCray

Nymeyer's former teammate at the University of Arizona, who described him as "the best player with whom I've ever played, always in the right place at the right time doing the right thing, a blessing to our team, leaving me with great memories."

Lacey Nymeyer

Nymeyer's granddaughter, who is inducted in the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame as a swimmer with a decorated career that included two individual national championships and eight relay national championships.

Pat Weber

A former wrestling coach and athletic director at Flowing Wells High School, who passed away recently at the age of 71.

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What they’re saying

“The best player with whom I've ever played, always in the right place at the right time doing the right thing, a blessing to our team, leaving me with great memories.”

— Ernie McCray, Nymeyer's former teammate at the University of Arizona

The takeaway

Nymeyer's passing marks the loss of another influential figure in Tucson's sports history, following the recent death of former Flowing Wells coach and athletic director Pat Weber. Nymeyer's legacy as a legendary player and coach, as well as his family's deep roots in the community, will continue to be remembered and celebrated by those whose lives he touched.