WEST CHESTER, Pa.- West Chester University announced the hiring of Chris Merce as the new head men's and women's golf coach on Tuesday morning.
Merce, a standout collegiate golfer at Saint Peter's, joins the Golden Rams after serving as the head men's and women's golf coach at Arcadia University for the last seven years.
"I am excited to welcome Chris to our community," began Director of Athletics Terry Beattie. "His head coaching experience, coupled with his administrative background and commitment to student-athlete success, make him a great fit for WCU Athletics. I look forward to working together with Chris to build upon the successes of both our golf programs."
In seven years at Arcadia, Merce mentored 13 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) All-Conference selections and helped guide the Knights men's program to three consecutive MAC Freedom Conference (2021, 2022, 2023) runner-up finishes. In the regular season, Merce helped his men's team win seven Team Tournament titles and six individual titles while guiding his women's team to a pair of Tournament titles. Additionally, Merce mentored the 2017 Men's MAC Commenwealth Individual Champion, 2017 MAC Commenwealth Golfer of the Year, 2019 MAC Commenwealth Rookie of the Year, and the 2019 MAC Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
At Arcadia, Merce also saw his men's and women's programs set new team and individual records in all major categories, including team score, season scoring average, and conference Championship finish.
"I'm excited to join the West Chester University community and grateful to have the opportunity to build on the success and tradition of the men's and women's golf programs," began Merce. "I'd like to thank Terry Beattie and the search committee for giving me this opportunity. The commitment to the golf programs and the student-athletes at West Chester was evident during the search process. I'm looking forward to using my role to help provide our players with the best possible student-athlete experience on and off the course. I'm anxious to get on campus and begin working with our players as we prepare for the upcoming season."
In addition to his coaching duties at Arcadia, Merce also served as the NCAA Compliance officer for all 26 of the Knight's varsity programs.
Before his time with Arcadia, Merce served two stints as an assistant coach at his Alma Mater, Saint Peter's, where he led daily practices and prepared each player's off-season practice and strength and conditioning plans. Between his two stints with the Peacocks, which occurred from June 2008-August 2012 and June 2015-February 2016, Merce served as the head coach at Iona University.
At Iona, Merce mentored seven All-MAAC selections, the 2015 MAAC Individual Champion, Rookie of the Year, and NCAA Regional Participant with the Gaels. In his three seasons, Merce also saw two players qualify for the 2013 USGA Amateur Championship while guiding the team to NCAA Public Recognition for Academic Progress Rate (APR).
As a player, Merce starred for Saint Peter's College from 2004-08 and was a two-year Captain and five-time medalist during his collegiate career. Merce also led the team in scoring average each season and graduated, holding program records for the lowest single-round score, most rounds under par, and lowest MAAC Championship Individual score.Merce has also had success on the amateur circuit, playing in a number of prestigious amateur events around the Region. As an amateur player,
Merce captured the Westchester Golf Association Public Links Championship in 2009 and 2011, the Westchester County Public Links Championship in 2010, 2015, and 2017, the 2016 South Jersey Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship and was runner-up at the 2011 Westchester Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship. In addition, he has qualified and competed in several of the most prestigious events in the New York metropolitan area, including the MGA IKE Championship, MGA Public Links Championship, New York City Amateur, and Westchester Open.
Merce completed his master's in Educational Leadership at Saint Peter's in 2010 after earning his bachelor's degree in history with a minor in secondary education from the University in 2008.
Merce will begin his duties with the Golden Rams on Monday, August 21.
