East Stroudsburg University Athletics

More Information:
Track & Field History - Men / Women
Cross Country History - Men / Women

Chris Merli completed his 23rd year at East Stroudsburg University during the 2019-20 cross country and track and field seasons.

He worked as the head women's track and field coach for 12 seasons (2006-18) after serving as an assistant coach in both track and field and cross country since arriving at ESU. He continues to work with the Warriors' athletes in both sports and is primarily responsible for coaching the sprints, hurdles and jumps.

ESU sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers combined for a remarkable 59 PSAC titles and 28 NCAA DII Championship appearances during Merli's 12 years of leadership. Of those 28 NCAA selections, 12 went on to earn All-America accolades.

The run of success culminated in 2017-18 with four PSAC titles on the men's side and a pair of All-America performances by hurdler/jumper Aspen Gaita in the pentathlon (indoor) and heptathlon (outdoors). Gaita placed sixth nationally in each of the multi events, and she also qualified for the DII championships in the indoor 100m hurdles.

Christian Castro (60H) was ESU's lone conference champion indoors, while Austin Horner (decathlon), Darnell Randall (long jump) and the men's 4x100m relay claimed titles at the PSAC Outdoor Championships. Castro and Gaita additionally swept the PSAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year awards, becoming the eighth and ninth major award selections for ESU under Merli's guidance.

The 2016-17 season was highlighted by Merli coaching the ESU's shuttle hurdle relay team of Steve Morgan, Mike Matrisciano, Akeim Thomas and Castro to a Championship of America title at the 123rd Penn Relays in 2017, as the Warriors became only the third DII school in the history of the prestigious meet to win a Championship of America event. Gaita and Morgan stood out individually, with the duo combining for four PSAC championships, four NCAA appearances and three All-America honors.

Another recent graduate, sprinter Danielle Smith, won eight PSAC titles in her career from 2012-15, the most in school history. She was the PSAC women's indoor and outdoor freshman of the year in 2012.

Merli was named the USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Men's Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year following both the 2009 and 2010 outdoor seasons. The Warriors sent their PSAC champion 4x100m relay to the NCAA Championships both years, claiming All-America honors in 2010, and Negus Graham was an All-American in the 400m both indoors and outdoors. Hurdler Rusty Smith was also a two-time indoor All-American under Merli in 2008 and 2009.

Graham was a three-time All-American in the 400, won nine PSAC championships (five individual, four relays) and was a two-time PSAC Championships track and field MVP. ESU men's sprinters won seven of eight PSAC Championships track athlete of the meet awards from 2009 through 2012 in Chris Reddick (2009 indoors, 2010 indoors), Andrew McCloskey (2009 outdoors), Graham (2010 outdoors, 2011 indoors/outdoors) and Ian Melhorn (2012 indoors).

In previous overall PSAC men's track athlete of the year awards, Reddick was selected in 2009 (indoors) and Graham was a three-time recipient (2009 outdoors, 2010 indoors/outdoors). Morgan was the 2014 PSAC men's outdoor freshman of the year.

Merli also handles the equipment and facilities needs for the team. He organizes the DeSchriver Invitational and All-American Meet at Koehler Fieldhouse and Eiler-Martin Stadium, respectively, and hires and supervises officials and other meet personnel.

Under the direction of Merli and Joe Koch, ESU hosted the 2015 PSAC Outdoor Championships at Eiler-Martin Stadium for the first time since 1985.

Merli has USA Track & Field Level II certification. He was a head track and field coach at Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic and an assistant at Pocono Mountain high schools, and ran on four ACC championship teams at the University of Maryland. He is a 1975 graduate of Monmouth University. Merli and his wife, Theresa, have been married 43 years and have four children.

Recent PSAC Championships by ESU Sprinters, Hurdlers and Long/Triple Jumpers
2019 indoor - Darnell Randall (LJ)
2019 indoor - Tatiana Williams (TJ)
2018 outdoor - Austin Horner (Dec), Darnell Randall (LJ), 4x100m Relay
2018 indoor - Christian Castro (60H)
2017 outdoor - Steve Morgan (110H)
2017 indoor - Steve Morgan (60H)
2016 outdoor - Derrick Washington (400), Steve Morgan (110H)
2015 outdoor - Derrick Washington (400), Steve Morgan (110H), Eric Conard (Dec), 4x400m Relay
2015 indoor - Steve Morgan (60H)
2014 outdoor - Steve Morgan (110H)
2013 outdoor - Damien Boham (400)
2013 indoor - 4x400m Relay
2012 outdoor - Dan Johnson (Dec), 4x100m Relay
2012 indoor - Ian Melhorn (200), Dan Johnson (Hept)
2011 outdoor - Asher Ashfield (100), Negus Graham (200, 400), 4x400m Relay
2011 indoor - Negus Graham (200, 400), 4x400m Relay
2010 outdoor - Andrew McCloskey (100), Negus Graham (400), Drew Miller (TJ), 4x100m Relay
2010 indoor - Chris Reddick (200), Drew Miller (TJ), 4x400m Relay
2009 outdoor - Andrew McCloskey (100, 200), Rusty Smith (110H), 4x100m Relay
2009 indoor - Chris Reddick (200), Rusty Smith (55H), Drew Miller (TJ)
2008 outdoor - Drew Miller (TJ), Kenny Cardullo (Pent)
2008 indoor - Drew Miller (TJ)

2017 outdoor - Aspen Gaita (100H)
2017 indoor - Aspen Gaita (60H)
2015 indoor - Danielle Smith (200)
2014 indoor - Danielle Smith (60, 200), Theresa Horn (Pent)
2013 outdoor - Danielle Smith (100)
2013 indoor - Danielle Smith (60, 200)
2012 outdoor - Danielle Smith (100, 200)
2010 indoor - Lauren Ventrella (55H), Trina Carito (Pent)
2008 outdoor - Trina Carito (Hept)
2008 indoor - Trina Carito (TJ)

Recent NCAA Qualifiers by ESU Sprinters, Hurdlers and Long/Triple Jumpers (All-Americans bold)
2019 indoor - Justin Miller (TJ)
2017 outdoor - Steve Morgan (110H)
2017 indoor - Steve Morgan (60H)
2012 outdoor - Dan Johnson (Dec)
2011 outdoor - Negus Graham (400)
2011 indoor - Negus Graham (400)
2010 outdoor - Negus Graham (400), 4x100m Relay, Drew Miller (TJ, LJ)
2010 indoor - Negus Graham (400), Chris Reddick (200), Rusty Smith (60H), Drew Miller (TJ)
2009 outdoor - Andrew McCloskey (100), Rusty Smith (110H)
2009 indoor - Rusty Smith (60H)
2008 outdoor - Drew Miller (TJ)
2008 indoor - Rusty Smith (60H), Drew Miller (TJ)

2018 outdoor - Aspen Gaita (Hep)
2018 indoor - Aspen Gaita (Pent)
2018 indoor - Aspen Gaita (60H)
2017 indoor - Aspen Gaita (Pent)
2017 indoor - Aspen Gaita (60H)
2011 indoor - Trina Carito (Pent)
2010 indoor - Trina Carito (Pent)
2009 outdoor - Jasmine Johnson (400)
2008 outdoor - Trina Carito (Hept)