University of Minnesota Athletics
Merchant Inducted Into HS Hall of Fame
10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Associate head coach Jessica Merchant was recently inducted into the 21st Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in Grand Rapids, Mich.
A native of Wayland, Mich., Merchant joins six other inductees. She attended the induction ceremony last Thursday evening.
Merchant entering her sixth season with the Gophers first heard the news that she would be inducted last spring.
"I actually got called at the end of our season last year when I was in the airport so it took me by surprise but it is obviously a tremendous honor," Merchant said.
Merchant has seen success at every level of both her playing and coaching career.
She was a two-time NFCA All-America shortstop captaining the Wolverines to the 2005 NCAA Championship which was the first national title in program history. She said she was inducted into the Grand Rapids Hall of Fame more for her accomplishments with Michigan than what she did in high school.
"Being from Michigan it is something I am extremely proud of," Merchant said.
She finished her collegiate career as the school's career home run leader (49) and is tied for second in school history in home runs in a season (21). Merchant also ranks fourth all-time at Michigan in career starts (252), is sixth in doubles (48) and is ninth in RBI (155).
When Merchant goes back to downtown Grand Rapids she will now be able to see her name hung up at Van Andel Arena as all the inductees had their names put up on plaques. Merchant said she is not sure how she will react when she comes back and sees her name there.
"There are some pretty outstanding people (in the Hall of Fame) so to be mentioned in that group is very humbling and an honor that I never expected," Merchant said.
After her time at Michigan Merchant spent one season as a volunteer assistant there before going to the University of Massachusetts for four seasons where she helped guide them to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Since coming to Minnesota she has been a part of a coaching staff that has seen the Maroon and Gold improve their record every year since 2010 along with making three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Working primarily with the infielders, one player that Merchant spent a lot of time with was Kaitlyn Richardson who just finished her career as one of the best players to ever put on a Gopher uniform.
"Coach Merchant had an extremely positive influence on my life while playing for her. Having the opportunity to learn from such a talented player was unbelievable. Every day at practice you could see the passion she had for softball and making us better athletes and women," Richardson said.
Echoing Richardson's thoughts was Sam Macken, junior infielder, who started all 60 games at third base for the Gophers last season.
"It is great learning from someone who cares so much about the game, you as an individual and who has achieved the things that Coach Merchant has. She is a great coach and role model. The University of Minnesota is lucky to have her," Macken said.
Merchant provided a simple but impactful response to what she has taken with her since her high school playing days.
"Work hard."
That short and sweet message is what Merchant tries to instill into her players.
"Our game is a game that you have to keep working at every single day," Merchant said. "If you work hard and try to get a little better each day then things work out closer to how you want them to then not."
Watch a TV news story on Merchant's induction here.
