Chris Merritt (American football)

Chris Merritt

Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	Bryant
Conference	CAA Football
Record	25–36
Biographical details
Born	(1969-12-07) December 7, 1969 (age 55)[1]
Playing career
1988–1992[2]	Indiana
1994–1995	Gavle Red Devils Sweden
1996-1997	Hamburg Blue Devils
Position(s)	Free safety
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1993	Eastern Illinois (assistant)
1996–1998	Hamburg Blue Devils (DC)
1999	Stuttgart Scorpions
2000	Thiel (DB)
2001–2018	Christopher Columbus HS (FL)
2019–present	Bryant
Head coaching record
Overall	25–36 (college) 52–11–1 (GFL) 165–49[n 1] (high school)

Chris Merritt (born December 7, 1969) is an American football coach and former player. He was named to the position as the head football coach at Bryant University in December 2018. He came to Bryant after serving 18 years as head coach at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida, posting a record of 165–49 in 18 season there. He also served five years at Thiel College as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator and two years at Eastern Illinois University as an assistant coach.

Merritt played college football at Indiana University Bloomington where he was four year letter winner. He played professionally in Sweden Superserien in 1994 and 1995 seasons. He then played and was a coach in the German Football League with the Hamburg Blue Devils winning the German Bowl and Eurobowl championships. He then coached the Stuttgart Scorpions.

Head coaching record

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Bryant Bulldogs (Northeast Conference) (2019–2022)
2019	Bryant	4–8	3–4	T–5th
2020–21	Bryant	2–2	2–2	T–3rd
2021	Bryant	7–4	5–2	2nd
2022	Bryant	4–7	2–3	T–3rd
Bryant Bulldogs (Big South–OVC Football Association) (2023)
2023	Bryant	6–5	4–2	T–3rd
Bryant Bulldogs (Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference) (2024–present)
2024	Bryant	2–10	0–8	T–15th
Bryant:		25–36	16–21
Total:		25–36

High school

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Christopher Columbus Explorers () (2001–2018)
2001	Christopher Columbus	9–3		1st
2002	Christopher Columbus	4–6[n 1]		3rd
2003	Christopher Columbus	7–4
2004	Christopher Columbus	7–3	4–0	1st
2005	Christopher Columbus	9–1	5–0	1st
2006	Christopher Columbus	7–4	4–1	2nd
2007	Christopher Columbus	11–1	5–0	1st
2008	Christopher Columbus	8–1	4–0	1st
2009	Christopher Columbus	9–2	5–0	1st
2010	Christopher Columbus	11–1	5–0	1st
2011	Christopher Columbus	11–2	3–0	1st
2012	Christopher Columbus	8–5	3–0	1st
2013	Christopher Columbus	7–5	4–1	2nd
2014	Christopher Columbus	14–2	6–0	1st
2015	Christopher Columbus	12–2	4–1	1st
2016	Christopher Columbus	7–4	4–1	2nd
2017	Christopher Columbus	10–2	4–0	1st
2018	Christopher Columbus	14–1	4–0	1st
Christopher Columbus:		165–49[n 1]
Total:		165–49[n 1]
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References and notes

1. "Chris Merritt". Twitter. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
2. "Chris Merritt". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
3. "Columbus Explorers". The Miami Herald. August 27, 2003. Retrieved August 17, 2024.

1. Christopher Columbus ended the 2002 season 7–3 but had to forfeit three wins due to an ineligible player.[3]

External links

• Bryant profile