By Allison Hogue, GoDuke.com
DURHAM, N.C. –
From working with student-athletes in the weight room to cheering for them on the golf course, Alex Merrill has played a vital part as the sports performance coach for the men's and women's golf programs.Merrill arrived at Duke in 2010 after serving two years as the head strength and conditioning coach at Attain Sports Performance in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
During his time as an intern, Merrill got his first taste of golf when he shadowed the men's team during their strength and conditioning sessions.
"He's always had a great level of enthusiasm and passion," said head men's golf coach Jamie Green. "Since that first day, he really showed how much he was engaged."
Following the end of his internship, Merrill was hired on full-time. He oversees sports performance for both men's and women's golf programs along with women's tennis and wrestling. Every day, Merrill comes into the weight room with a drive to help athletes become successful in a way that they may not have achieved.
The ones that train under Merrill not only leave as physically better athletes but with a level of confidence, that will help them on the golf course especially at the national level.
"I think we live in a world where it's all about 'hey, what's someone doing for me?" Merrill said. "It's humbling to be in a profession that's the complete opposite of that where it's always 'what can I do for my athletes and for the team?"
Merrill's philosophy has created a positive environment for both the men's and women's golf teams. The coaches and student-athletes admire his work and how it has helped both programs become successful. When women's golf head coach Dan Brooks first met Merrill, he knew there was something special about him including his desire and ability to connect with the student-athletes.
"It's like golf and the weight room are kind of two totally different environments," Brooks mentioned. "A guy like Alex comes in real handy."
Ana Belac, who recently graduated from Duke, describes Merrill as one of the "the most influential people" during her time with the program. She recalls the conversations she would have with him during training sessions.
"His help in the weight room was very tremendous," said Belac. "Not just when it comes to lifting, but also being able to talk to me if I had a bad day or just being there for me beyond strength and conditioning which he's there for."
When Merrill is not in the weight room, he is out on the golf course cheering on Duke. He always makes sure his voice is loud and clear when bringing motivation to the players. Belac and rising junior Gina Kim remember when Merrill instilled a drive of confidence in the women's team during their quest to win the 2019 NCAA Championship, the seventh overall title in program history.
"I remember one of the holes, there were about 10 Arizona people," Belac said. "And Alex was louder than like all of the Arizona people together."
"You could only hear Alex yelling at the top of his lungs," Kim added. "The announcer even had to like talk slightly louder just to be on top of Alex's voice."
Merrill's impact on the men's and women's golf teams goes far and beyond. Whether it's doing strength training or creating confidence on the course, he is always there showing his support for the student-athletes competing on the national stage.
"We need to remember that these are 18 to 22-year-old kids," said Merrill. "We need to make sure that we're listening to these kids."
Now having been a part of Duke athletics for 10 years, Merrill continues to create a platform for student-athletes. He hopes the life lessons they learn from him will help them not only if they decide to turn professional, but also whichever path they choose in life.
"If we set a great foundation and teach them some really simple things, they will become more successful," commented Merrill.
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July 04, 2020 at 06:42PM
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