Since joining the Sun Belt in 2013, Texas State track and field has been one of the most dominant teams in the conference. According to statistics obtained from the Sun Belt Conference, in an 11-year span, the Bobcats have recorded four outdoor conference championships and five indoor conference championships. The 2024 season was no different for Texas State. The Bobcat’s women’s team secured their first outdoor-conference title since 2018, the men’s team placed second overall for the second season in a row, and it sent a total of 10 athletes to compete at the NCAA Nationals meet, including sending the first women’s 4×100 meter relay in Texas State history to the NCAA Championships.
However, success in the track and field world tends to bring changes and that is exactly what happened to Texas State track and field after the 2024 season. Long time sprints coach Trent Edgerton left the team and took a job at Nebraska, leaving Coach Frazier, the director of Texas State cross country/track and field, with an open spot to fill on his coaching staff.
After nearly three months of searching for a candidate, coach Frazier found his new hire in Aries Merritt, who at the time was an assistant sprints/hurdles coach at Brown University. Filip also noted that having coach Merritt around not only elevates the sprinters and hurdlers but also multi-event/decathlon athletes who compete in both field events and track events. “He works with the multi-event athletes and we have already seen a ton of improvement,” said Filip. “He is extremely patient and thorough, and having him be their hurdle coach is huge for both the technical aspect, but also the confidence that comes from knowing you’re learning from the very best.”
Coach Merritt, who has now been in San Marcos for three months, knew from day one that Texas State was the place for him for a multitude of reasons. “Once I met the athletes and knew of their expectations and their skills, I knew Texas State was the place for me,” said Merritt. “I also have family in the Dallas area, and getting to move back home closer to Dallas was also a plus.”
Merritt has wasted no time with his new coaching opportunity and has hit the ground running with his new set of athletes. Because of his extensive experience in the track and field world as both a high-level athlete and a coach, Merritt has been able to bring a change of pace to the track team’s workouts and has been able to focus on getting them stronger and healthier earlier in the season, which will keep them in top shape when the major meets come in May and June.
“Practice has been very well received; I am giving them a mix of things I did at the collegiate level and things I did at the pro level,” said Merritt. “They have been doing tedious workouts on the grass the past two months, and this is the first week they have even touched the track, and they are shocked at how strong they are compared to last season. It is just a different coaching style compared to last year, and they are really liking where they are at.”
Daniel Harrold, a current athlete on the track team and an elite level hurdler, who according to the Texas State athletics website was the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Track Performer of the Year last season, joined the coaches in having high praise for what Merritt has done so far for the track and field team and what his joining the team means for the Bobcats.
“Having someone who has reached the pinnacle of track and field brings unmatched insight; they’ve navigated the challenges, pressures, and successes of the sport, and that knowledge can guide us to improve our performance and mindset both on and off the track,” said Harrold. “A coach with a successful track record can inspire athletes, instill confidence, and teach valuable lessons that extend beyond the sport.”
When asked what Coach Frazier saw in Merritt and why he chose him for the position, Frazier had nothing but praise to speak. “We interviewed a lot of great coaches who could have gotten the job done. What I realized about Coach Merritt was that he was very motivated about wanting to come here, and he knew how to coach,” said Frazier. “His techniques and philosophy were great; he was very communicative and we are on the same page. Since he’s been here, there’s been a whole new level of positivity within our sprints and hurdles area.”
Coach Frazier was not the only Texas State coach who was thrilled by the hiring of Aries Merritt. Coach Filip, the associate head coach for Texas State track and field, also spoke very highly of Merritt and his abilities as a coach. “His expertise in the sprints and hurdles is going to elevate our team, but more than anything the energy and enthusiasm he brings every day is infectious and helps create such a positive atmosphere, both amongst our staff and athletes,” said Filip. “He is so full of knowledge that I have already enjoyed learning a little bit more about the mentality behind what it takes to compete at the very highest level.”
Besides a change to the workouts, the other major factor Merritt wants to bring to the team is a new level of confidence and inspiration for the athletes.
“In my career I have had a lot of great successes, and the experiences I have had competing at all different stages just help give my athletes a state of peace when they are on the starting line,” said Merritt. “Giving them confidence and inspiration is something I focus on and try to do all the time in practice.”
The last change Merritt has implemented at Texas State so far is a more positive approach to coaching his athletes. He wants his sprints group to come together as more of a cohesive unit and family, which is something he feels has been lacking in the years past. To obtain this goal, Merritt has an open-door policy that allows athletes to come in and talk with him anytime they need to and about anything they want to. He also tries to make practice more enjoyable by joking around with the team and having a more dynamic and fun atmosphere. However, Merritt says when it is time to work, he wants the kids to have their heads down, put in the work, and get the job done.
Coming into a team that has experienced a lot of success in the past and has high expectations can always be a challenge for new coaches. Merritt, however, is not backing down from those expectations and plans to face them head-on.
“A lot of the athletes have a newfound confidence just in the offseason training I have them doing, and I am excited to see where they are at in three to four months,” said Merritt. “My expectations for them are to get back to Nationals and place at Nationals, not just appear. I want the collegiate ranks to know this is Texas State, we are here to stay and we are going to represent Texas State the best we can on a national level.”