Suzy Merchant

College coach infobox


ImageWidth = 150px
Name = Suzy Merchant
Caption =
DateOfBirth = 1966
Birthplace = flagicon|USA Traverse City, Michigan
DateOfDeath =
Sport = Basketball
College = Michigan State University
Title = Head coach
CurrentRecord = 23-14
OverallRecord = 201-120 (.626)
Awards =
Championships = Mid-American Conference West Division
Player = Yes
Years = 1987-1991
Team = Central Michigan University
Position = Guard
Coach = Yes
CoachYears = 1992 - 1995
1995 - 1998
1998 - 2007
2007 - present
CoachTeams = 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.

Coaching career

Merchant was named head coach at Michigan State on Monday April 30, 2007. [ [http://msuspartans.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/043007aaa.html Suzy Merchant Named Spartan Women's Basketball Coach :: Merchant becomes fifth coach in program history following nine successful years at Eastern Michigan ] ] 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. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/recap?gameId=244000009 ESPN - Eastern Michigan vs. Boston College - Recap, March 20, 2004 ] ] 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 [ [http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=42881&SPID=3793&DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=579111 2005 Kraft MAC Women's Tournament Semifinal #1 - MAC-Sports.com—Official Web Site of the Mid-American Conference ] ] 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. [ [http://msuspartans.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/043007aaa.html Suzy Merchant Named Spartan Women's Basketball Coach :: Merchant becomes fifth coach in program history following nine successful years at Eastern Michigan ] ]

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. [ [http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=42881&SPID=3793&DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=1095114 Kent State Upsets Top-seeded Eastern Michigan, 70-56 - MAC-Sports.com—Official Web Site of the Mid-American Conference ] ] [ [http://msuspartans.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/043007aaa.html Suzy Merchant Named Spartan Women's Basketball Coach :: Merchant becomes fifth coach in program history following nine successful years at Eastern Michigan ] ]

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. [ [http://msuspartans.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/043007aaa.html Suzy Merchant Named Spartan Women's Basketball Coach :: Merchant becomes fifth coach in program history following nine successful years at Eastern Michigan ] ]

Playing career

Merchant played four seasons as a guard at Central Michigan University. She was a four-year starter and a 3 year captain.

References