James Merriman (soccer coach)

James Merriman is a Canadian soccer coach who is currently the head coach of Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League.

James Merriman
Merriman in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-06-09) June 9, 1985
Place of birth Nanaimo, British Columbia
Team information
Current team
 Pacific FC (head coach)
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Denver Pioneers ≥54 (≥5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Colorado Rapids Reserves
2008–2009 Colorado Lightning (indoor) 4 (4)
Victoria Highlanders FC
Managerial career
2009–2011 VIU Mariners (assistant)
2012–2013 Simon Fraser athletics (assistant)
2019–2021 Pacific FC (assistant)
2022– Pacific FC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Merriman played NCAA Division I soccer with the University of Denver Pioneers.[1] His senior career included stints with Colorado Rapids Reserves, Victoria Highlanders FC, and Colorado Lightning.[2][3]

Coaching career

Early career

Merriman served as assistant coach of Vancouver Island University from 2009 to 2011 and at Simon Fraser University from 2012 to 2013.[2] He also coached in various roles with the Whitecaps FC Academy.

Pacific FC

James Merriman was hired as an assistant coach under Michael Silberbauer for the inaugural season of Pacific FC and the Canadian Premier League. That 2019 season was disappointing for Pacific, and Silberbauer was fired before Pacific's final game of the year.[4] This gave Merriman the opportunity to take the reins as interim manager, and he managed Pacific to a 2–0 victory over Valour FC to close out the season in fifth place.[5]

Ahead of the 2020 season, Pacific hired Pa-Modou Kah as the new head coach and retained Merriman as his assistant.[6] The season saw improvement for Pacific as the club finished the CPL season in fourth.

The 2021 season was even better as Pacific managed to win the 2021 Canadian Premier League Final to become league champions and also went on an impressive run in the Canadian Championship. Following the season, Kah departed the club to manage North Texas SC and Merriman was named as Pacific's new head coach.[7]

References
  1. "Merriman, Flynn Dominate Diggers, 4-0". University of Denver Athletics. October 5, 2003. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  2. "Whitecaps FC add James Merriman to Pre-Residency and Academy Centre coaching staff | Vancouver Whitecaps". whitecapsfc. October 16, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  3. "James Merriman soccer Statistics". statscrew.com. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  4. "Pacific FC Sacks Michael Silberbauer". Northern Tribune. October 18, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  5. "HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific rises above Valour to close out 2019". Canadian Premier League. October 19, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  6. "Pacific FC signs Coaches Pa-Modou Kah and James Merriman to extensions". Pacific FC. March 25, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  7. "Pa-Modou Kah departs Pacific FC; James Merriman named head coach". Canadian Premier League. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
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