Reno, Nev. - Rich Merritt, head mens golf coach at the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) the past six years, has been hired as Nevadas new head mens golf coach, the school announced.
Merritt, a 1996 graduate of San Jose State, guided the Indians to their first Southland Conference Championship this past season as they earned the schools first NCAA Regional bid with a team comprised entirely of sophomores and freshmen. He has produced numerous all-conference players and had one player earn Academic All-America honors in 2000 and 2001 while at ULM.
In addition to his head coaching experience, he brings with him a background that includes a year in the PAC-10 at Oregon State (1997-98) as an assistant coach, a year in the WAC at San Jose State (1995-96) as an assistant, as well as extensive fund-raising ability. This past year, he raised over $50,000 for the Indians golf program, the most successful golf fund-raiser in school history.
Rich has great experience at the Division I level. He has been an assistant in the PAC-10 and the WAC and for the past six years as a head coach at ULM. He is a great fit for Nevada and were excited to have him join the Wolf Pack family, Cindy Fox, Senior Associate Athletics Director and chair of the search committee, said.
As a collegiate golfer, Merritt was an all-conference selection both years at Fresno City College (1992, 1993) and then completed his final two years at San Jose State (1994 and 1995). He also won the 1996 Belmont Country Club championship in Fresno.
This will be a wonderful move for my family with everything the university and Reno have to offer. Im extremely excited about this opportunity not only to help fill up the Tribute to Champions area for golf in Legacy Hall with WAC and NCAA trophies, but also to get closer to our families, Merritt said.
Merritt has also served as an instructor at junior golf camps in Oregon (1997) and Arkansas (2002-03) and helped with several junior golf clinics in Monroe since his arrival there. He has also served on United Way and The March of Dimes campaigns, the city of Monroe Clean-up Project, and been involved with the College Golf Fellowship and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Besides chairing his own Outback Golf Classic in Monroe the past six years, he has served on the Board of Directors for the Cotton States Invitational in Monroe.
Merritt, a native of Fresno, Calif., and his wife, Shannon, have two sons, Richard Merritt VI (6) and Matthew Merritt (2). He will begin his duties in Reno in early August. He replaces Tom Duncan, who resigned his position earlier this summer when he purchased Wolf Run Golf Club from the athletics department.