Suzy Merchant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Suzy Merchant | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Title | Head coach | |
| College | Michigan State University | |
| Sport | Basketball | |
| Team record | 23-14 | |
| Born | 1966 | |
| Place of birth |  Traverse City, Michigan |
|
| Career highlights | ||
| Overall | 201-120 (.626) | |
| Championships | ||
| Mid-American Conference West Division | ||
| Playing career | ||
| 1987-1991 | Central Michigan University | |
| Position | Guard | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
| 1992 - 1995 1995 - 1998 1998 - 2007 2007 - present |
Oakland University (asst.) Saginaw Valley State Eastern Michigan University Michigan State University |
|
Suzy Merchant (born in Traverse City, MI) is the current head coach for the Michigan State University Women's Basketball team.
[edit] Coaching career
Merchant was named head coach at Michigan State on Monday April 30, 2007. [1] She replaces Joanne P. McCallie who left Michigan State for the same coaching position at Duke University. Merchant spent the last 9 years of her coaching career at Eastern Michigan University.
While at EMU, she compiled a record of 147-91 (.618), including three 20-win seasons, three postseason appearances and two Mid-American Conference West Division titles. Merchant's 2003-04 Eastern Michigan team claimed the MAC West Division and MAC Tournament championships for the first time in school history, earning the program's first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament en route to a 22-8 record. Eastern Michigan stumbled in the first round against eventual sweet sixteener Boston College. After falling behind 22-4 in the opening half, EMU fought back and tied the game with 15 seconds remaining. BC slammed the door with a backdoor layup to end the rally. [2] She followed that impressive season by winning 23 games in 2004-05, the most in school history, a loss in the MAC Tournament semi-final ..[3] sent EMU to the postseason for the second straight year with a WNIT appearance, where the Eagles fell in the 1st round to eventual semi-finalist Kentucky 79-68.[4]
In 2005-06, the Eagles reached the 20-win plateau for the third consecutive season and won their second MAC West title with a 15-1 conference record, notching the most league wins in school history. Their 22-8 overall record put them into the postseason for the third straight year as the Eagles earned a bid to the WNIT. EMU's 1st round opponent, Indiana State, defeated the Eagles 79-57. While on maternity leave for most of last season, Merchant's Eagles finished second in the MAC West Division with a 10-6 league record and finished 16-13 overall, losing to Kent State 70-56 in the MAC conference semi-finals .[5] .[6]
Merchant, who coached for three years at Saginaw Valley State prior to EMU, owns a 201-120 (.626) career record in 12 years as a head coach. recording a 54-29 record. After inheriting a team with a losing record, Merchant quickly built the SVSU program into a winner, going 15-11 in her first season before going 19-11 in year two while earning a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament for just the second time in school history. In her final season, Saginaw Valley State collected a 20-7 record and was ranked as high as 15th in the nation.[7]
[edit] Playing career
Merchant played four seasons as a guard at Central Michigan University. She was a four-year starter and a 3 year captain.
| Preceded by Joanne P. McCallie |
Michigan State University Women's Basketball Head Coach 2007–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
[edit] References
- ^ Suzy Merchant Named Spartan Women's Basketball Coach :: Merchant becomes fifth coach in program history following nine successful years at Eastern Michigan
- ^ ESPN - Eastern Michigan vs. Boston College - Recap, March 20, 2004
- ^ 2005 Kraft MAC Women's Tournament Semifinal #1 - MAC-Sports.com—Official Web Site of the Mid-American Conference
- ^ Suzy Merchant Named Spartan Women's Basketball Coach :: Merchant becomes fifth coach in program history following nine successful years at Eastern Michigan
- ^ Kent State Upsets Top-seeded Eastern Michigan, 70-56 - MAC-Sports.com—Official Web Site of the Mid-American Conference
- ^ Suzy Merchant Named Spartan Women's Basketball Coach :: Merchant becomes fifth coach in program history following nine successful years at Eastern Michigan
- ^ Suzy Merchant Named Spartan Women's Basketball Coach :: Merchant becomes fifth coach in program history following nine successful years at Eastern Michigan
