Deno Merrick named head men's and women's soccer coach at Missouri Baptist University

July 23, 2007

Story submitted by Tiah Wingate, Sports Information Director, Missouri Baptist University, (314) 323-0307

St. Louis, Mo.- Missouri Baptist University has named Deno Merrick the new Head Men's and Women's Soccer Coach, in an announcement made by Director of Athletics Thomas Smith. Previous Coach Jared Embick resigned from his position at MBU to accept a position as an Assistant Men's Soccer Coach for the University of Akron (NCAA Division I).

Deno has served as the MBU Assistant Men's Soccer Coach for the past two years. Prior to that, he served as the program's Graduate Assistant Coach for one year. He will now be working double-time; heading both the Men's and Women's Soccer Teams will be no small task.

"I look forward to the challenge," said Coach Merrick. "I hope that I can carry on the tradition of success with the Men's Team and bring success and stability back to the Women's Team."

Coach Merrick is optimistic about the coming season, as the Men's Team has many key players returning, including five seniors. The Women's Team only graduated three, and he hopes several key recruits will prove to be the missing keys to success.

Coach Merrick will have a familiar support staff, as the current Graduate Assistant Men's Soccer Coach, David Beck, will step into the role of Assistant Men's Coach, while Mandy Faser will stay on as the Assistant Women's Coach.

Coach Merrick, a native of Willikies Village, Antigua, came to the United States to play collegiate soccer. He began his career at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, continued it at Indiana Wesleyan University, and concluded it with his senior season at Missouri Baptist University. He still plays, and is currently a member of the St. Louis Lions Soccer Team (Professional Development League.)

Missouri Baptist University's athletic teams compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the American Midwest Conference. MBU, a premier Christian University in Saint Louis, is committed to enriching the lives of the student athletes spiritually, academically and athletically and subscribes to the five NAIA character initiatives: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Servant Leadership, and Sportsmanship.