Southern Oregon University Athletics

Merriman served as the Director of the School of Health and Physical Education from 1966 to '88 and was the university's athletic director from 1969 to '73 and 1978 to '80.  A staunch advocate of sports for both men and women and a facilitator of gender equity, he helped hire several of SOU's most outstanding coaches/instructors.  Merriman, who coached the women's basketball team in 1973-74, was instrumental in the construction of numerous building projects, including the SOU racquetball courts, a facility that now bears his name.