Earl J. Merritt

Earl Jay "Fuzz" Merritt (August 9, 1896 – July 7, 1986) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Pomona College in Claremont, California, from 1935 to 1958, compiling a record of 93–67–13. Merritt also coached basketball and baseball at Pomona.[1]

Earl J. Merritt
Biographical details
Born(1896-08-09)August 9, 1896
Duluth, Minnesota
DiedJuly 7, 1986(1986-07-07) (aged 89)
La Verne, California
Alma materPomona College
Playing career
Football
1923–1924Pomona
Basketball
c. 1924Pomona
Baseball
c. 1924Pomona
Track
c. 1924Pomona
Position(s)Quarterback (football)
Center fielder (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1925–1934Pomona (freshmen)
1935–1958Pomona/Pomona-Claremont
Head coaching record
Overall93–67–13
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
6 SCC/SCIAC (1938, 1942, 1950, 1953–1955)

Early life and education

Merritt attended Pomona, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He played quarterback on the football team and as a center fielder on the baseball team. In track, he participated in the hammer throw, discus throw, and pole vault.[2]

Coaching career

Following his graduation in 1925, Merritt join's Pomona's coaching staff. He coached the freshman football team for ten seasons before succeeding Eugene W. Nixon as head coach of the varsity football team in 1935.[3][4]

Death and legacy

In December 1960, Merrit was elected to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.[5] He died on July 7, 1986.[6] The football field of the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens was renamed Merritt Field in his honor in 1991.[7][8]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Pomona Sagehens (Independent) (1935–1937)
1935 Pomona 5–2–1
1936 Pomona 6–4
1937 Pomona 6–2–1
Pomona/Pomona-Claremont Sagehens (Southern California Conference / Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1938–1958)
1938 Pomona 6–0–14–0–11st
1939 Pomona 4–3–12–1–12nd
1940 Pomona 4–43–12nd
1941 Pomona 2–50–45th
1942 Pomona 3–3–12–1T–1st
1943 Pomona 2–3–2
1944 No team—World War II
1945 No team—World War II
1946 Pomona 1–5–21–1–23rd
1947 Pomona 3–3–11–2–1T–3rd
1948 Pomona 6–23–12nd
1949 Pomona 6–23–12nd
1950 Pomona 4–3–13–1T–1st
1951 Pomona 1–71–3T–4th
1952 Pomona 2–52–23rd
1953 Pomona-Claremont 7–13–1T–1st
1954 Pomona-Claremont 8–04–01st
1955 Pomona-Claremont 7–14–01st
1956 Pomona-Claremont 4–3–12–1–1T–2nd
1957 Pomona-Claremont 3–42–12nd
1958 Pomona 3–5–11–34th
Pomona / Pomona-Claremont: 93–67–13
Total:93–67–13
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

References
  1. "Mills Succeeds Merritt As Sagehen Grid Coach". Progress Bulletin. Pomona, California. April 13, 1959. p. 16. Retrieved December 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  2. ""Fuzz" Merritt Joins Sagehen Coaching Staff". Progress Bulletin. Pomona, California. May 20, 1925. p. 6. Retrieved December 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  3. "Merritt Shifted To Sagehen Varsity Gridiron Post". Progress Bulletin. Pomona, California. January 18, 1935. p. 14. Retrieved December 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  4. "Meet the Coach - Merritt, Sagehens". Los Angeles Times. 18 Sep 1955. p. 163. Retrieved 13 August 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Merritt Joins Hall of Fame". The San Bernardino County Sun. 10 December 1960. p. 29. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  6. "Names In The News". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. July 11, 1986. p. 46. Retrieved December 1, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  7. "1935". Pomona College Timeline. Pomona College. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  8. "Athletic History". Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
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