The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Golf Coach Merritt Retires
4/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
April 22, 2002
Gwen Merritt, who has directed the UAB women's golf program the past four seasons, will retire from her head coaching duties at the end of the 2002 campaign.
Merritt, who came to UAB in 1998, is retiring to spend more time with her family. "My family situation has changed and this (retirement) will allow me to spend more time with them, including my five-year-old granddaughter (Kelsey)," said Merritt.
A former collegiate player at UCLA and Arizona State, Merritt guided the Blazers to a fifth place finish at last weekend's Conference USA Championships in Hattiesburg, Miss. UAB's best conference finish during Merritt's tenure was a third place effort during the 1999 event.
"I have enjoyed the challenge of coaching at this level," said Merritt. "I feel like the program has risen to a higher level as a whole."
UAB Director of Athletics Herman Frazier praised Merritt's contributions. "In the year-and-a-half that I have had to work with Gwen," said Frazier, "she has displayed nothing but class and she has had some wonderful student-athletes. We obviously will miss her and wish her the best in her retirement."
Merritt, a native of Monterey, Calif., started playing golf at the age of 7 at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, Calif. While in high school, she played in junior tournaments and taught golf. From there she moved on to become the assistant professional at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
As a collegiate player, she competed in the women's USGA Amateur in Pasadena, Calif. In 1972, Merritt joined the LPGA tour.
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