Ernest Merrell
Ernest B. Merrell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Solon, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 1938 (aged 62) |
| Occupation(s) | College football coach, banker, football official |
| Known for | Head football coach at Miami University (1896) |
Ernest B. Merrell (October 5, 1875 – July 20, 1938) was an American collegiate football coach who directed the Miami University football squad during the 1896 season, compiling a record of 3–1.
Early life
Merrell was born in Solon, Ohio and later relocated with his family to Chicago, where he attended Englewood High School and distinguished himself in sports. He subsequently returned to Ohio to enroll at Oberlin College, participating as a member of their football team.
Coaching career
In 1896, Merrell assumed the role of Miami University's second compensated football coach. Over the course of his lone coaching year, he led the team to victories over Cincinnati, Dayton, and Earlham College. The season concluded with a 16–4 defeat by Butler, which represented the program’s initial loss under a paid coaching staff.
Later life
Following his coaching tenure, Merrell embarked on a banking profession in Cleveland, eventually attaining the position of Vice-President at the Cleveland Trust Company by 1930. He maintained ties to football through officiating matches. Merrell passed away in an automobile accident in 1938 at the age of 61.