Hendrix College Athletics

Alma Mater: Millsaps 2012
Seasons: Fifth season

Brian Merkel begins his fourth season as an assistant to head men's basketball coach Thad McCracken after a successful playing career at NCAA Division III and Southern Athletic Association member Millsaps College.

In addition to coaching basketball, Merkel will serve as the assistant golf coach.

He coached the 2016-17 Southern Athletic Association Player of the Year in Hank Aldous. The Warriors ranked 34th in the nation in assists per game the same year.

In 2014-15, the Warriors recorded a five-game winning streak which propelled Hendrix into their first NCAA Division III Tournament since 1996. They won the final two games of the regular season, then knocked off the #3, #2 and #1 seeds at the Southern Athletic Association Tournament to become league champions.

In his three seasons with the Warriors, Merkel helped coach five all-conference selections.

Merkel was a three-year starter at point guard for Millsaps College appearing in 88 games during his career. He scored a career-high 15 points against Oglethorpe and dished out nine assists against Rhodes. Merkel led the Majors in assists during his final three seasons.  Merkel also served as team captain as a junior and senior and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court in 2011 and 2012.

A native of Baton Rouge, La., Merkel averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game for St. Michael the Archangel High School. He was an all-district selection in 2008 and named to the Louisiana Coaches Association All-State Team that same year. Merkel was also a member of the National Honor Society.

Merkel served as St. Michael’s freshmen and junior varsity head coach while also serving as the varsity assistant during the 2012-13 season. Also, he was an assistant coach with the Red Storm AAU basketball program.

Merkel graduated from Millsaps College in 2012 with a degree in Business Administration and minors in Economics and Communications.  He received his MBA in the summer of 2013 from Southeastern Louisiana University.