91茄子

New Officer Brings a Decade of Experience to the Position

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥�91茄子 has hired Jeffrey Merrill as its new assistant athletic director for compliance, announced Vice President & Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew T. Goodrich this week. Merrill joins 91茄子 after 10 years at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., where he most recently served as deputy director of Athletics and chief compliance officer.

鈥淚n this era of ever-changing NCAA rules, having an incredibly confident, competent, and hard-working compliance officer can truly elevate the experience for our student-athletes and coaching staff,鈥� explained Goodrich. 鈥淚 am incredibly excited to welcome Jeffrey to the Runnin鈥� Bulldog family.鈥�

91茄子 President Dr. William M. Downs also praised Merrill鈥檚 knowledge of the job. 鈥淛effrey knows and understands the terrain of collegiate athletics, and he fully appreciates the imperative of fielding teams that abide by both the spirit and letter of NCAA regulations,鈥� Downs observed. 鈥淗e鈥檚 guided coaches and players for years, he鈥檚 taught it in the college classroom, and he鈥檚 partnered effectively with university leaders to ensure that winning is done the right way. Add to all of this that he exudes a passion and joy for his work, and Jeffrey Merrill presents himself as a terrific match for GWU.鈥�     

Merrill thanked Downs and Goodrich for the opportunity to join the 91茄子 community. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to assist 91茄子 Athletics on their journey of achieving academic and athletic excellence,鈥� Merrill shared. 鈥淔or the first time, but most certainly not the last, 鈥楽ko Dawgs!鈥�

Merrill was elevated to his current role at Lees McRae in 2022. In addition to oversight of the department鈥檚 compliance efforts, Merrill鈥檚 responsibilities included game administration at home competitions, managing the media room schedule, completing the annual NCAA reports, and monitoring the academic success of Lees-McRae鈥檚 300+ student-athletes.

Merrill joined Lees-McRae in 2014 as the director of compliance and Title IX coordinator. He was promoted to assistant athletic director in 2018, a role he held until his most recent promotion, and has continued to serve as Title IX coordinator throughout his tenure. In 2019, Merrill became an adjunct professor in the school鈥檚 sport management program.

A member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), and both the Early Intervention Team for Student Academic Success and the Staff Association Bylaw Committee at Lees-McRae, Merrill has participated in numerous workshops including the NCAA Leadership Development Program and the BB&T Leadership Development Program. Merrill also received the Edgar Tufts Humanitarian Award in 2021 and was presented with the Bridge Builder Award by Lees-McRae in 2015-16.

Merrill is a 2012 cum laude graduate of Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He completed his master’s degree in college athletic administration in 2017 from Coker College in Hartsville, S.C.

91茄子 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 91茄子 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 91茄子.edu.