John Merritt

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John Merritt

Sport	Football
Born	January 26, 1926
Place of birth	Falmouth, Kentucky
Died	December 13, 1983
Place of death	Nashville, Tennessee
Career highlights
Overall	233-67-11
Coaching stats
College Football DataWarehouse
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1952-1983	Jackson State University 1952-1962 Tennessee State University 1963-1983
College Football Hall of Fame, 1994 (Bio)

John Merritt (January 26, 1926 – December 13, 1983) was a head football coach at Jackson State University and Tennessee State University. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

Merritt led Jackson State to back-to-back appearances in the Orange Blossom Classic in 1961 and 1962 before being hired by Tennessee State.

At TSU, Merritt tallied four undefeated seasons, claimed four Midwestern Conference titles, and scored the school's first-ever NCAA Division I-AA playoff victory in 1982. His coaching record at Tennessee State was 174 wins, 35 losses, and 7 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2007 season, this ranks him first at Tennessee State in total wins and third at Tennessee State in winning percentage (0.822). ^[1]

John Merritt Boulevard in Nashville, Tennessee is named in his honor, and the Tennessee State football team opens every season with the John Merritt Classic game against Alabama A&M University.

Preceded by T.B. Ellis	Jackson State University Head Football Coach 1952–1962	Succeeded by Edward Clemons

Preceded by Lawrence Simmons	Tennessee State University Head Football Coach 1963–1983	Succeeded by Bill Thomas

v • d • e Jackson State Tigers head football coaches

Ellis • Merritt • Clemons • Paige • McPhearson • Hill • Gorden • Carson • Hughes • Bell • Comegy

v • d • e Tennessee State Tigers head football coaches

Robinson • Hunt • Scruggs • Davenport • Gale • Long • Jackson • Upshaw • Benjamin • Davis • Mundy • Simmons • Kean • Gentry • Simmons • Merritt • Thomas • Gilliam, Sr. • Davis • Cole • Reese • Webster