ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University head women's basketball coach
Jimmy Garrity has announced that Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Mike Merrill has been named Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach
for the Trojans.
"I am really excited for Mike and our women's basketball program
to announce this promotion," said Garrity. "Mike plays such a vital
role in our program's success in all aspects. Not only is he a
great teacher of the game on the court, but he truly cares about
each individual member and is committed to their overall
development as a student-athlete. I feel extremely blessed to have
Mike on my staff and I know our players feel the same."
Merrill will be completing his third season with the Trojans
after coming to AU with Garrity in 2013. Over the last three
seasons he has been a part of the Trojans' back-to-back regular
season SAC titles, which also saw the team reach the Sweet Sixteen
a year ago.
As an integral part of the coaching staff, Merrill has helped
guide Anderson to a 63-24 (.724) overall record since his arrival,
with the Trojans making runs in the SAC tournament championship
each of the three seasons.
The native of Hendersonville, North Carolina directs the
Trojans' recruiting efforts, as well as assisting with the practice
plans and game plans. He is in charge of defensive schemes, the
development of the post players, coordinates scouting opponents,
runs the Trojan basketball camps and monitors team academic
progress.
Merrill has been an understudy of Garrity since his time as a
UNC Wilmington student assistant in 2005. In 2007, Merrill was
hired as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Seahawks, as
Garrity was an assistant coach for the women's basketball team.
Merrill ended up spending five seasons with UNCW and contributed to
the program's success on and off the court.
Away from the court, Merrill founded UNCW's mentoring program at
Holly Tree Elementary in Wilmington, N.C. and was a counselor at
Ann Hancock's women's basketball camp and camp supervisor for
Cynthia Cooper Basketball camps, both held on the campus of
UNCW.
Merrill was also a main contributor to the "Seahawks Tomorrow"
program where he worked with the school's athletic marketing
department to reach out to elementary school students and provide
tours of UNCW's campus to inspire them to attend college in the
future.
Merrill received his Bachelor of Arts in physical education from
UNC Wilmington in 2007 and earned his Master of Arts in sports
management from North Carolina State University in 2014. Merrill is
married to the former Molly Pyles who played volleyball at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2001-05. Both are
natives of Hendersonville, N.C. and are the proud parents of a son,
Nolan.
"I would like to thank coach Garrity for his encouragement, guidance and for providing the opportunity to be a member of his staff," said Merrill. "I am honored and humbled by this recognition and I think it is a reflection of how hard our student-athletes and staff work on a daily basis to continue to take Anderson Women's Basketball to new heights. I would also like to thank Director of Athletics Bill D'Andrea and our athletic administration for their support of the AU women's basketball program. I am incredibly fortunate to spend each day working to make a positive impact on the lives on our student-athletes, to work with such an incredible staff and to have the support of Anderson University"
