Suzanne Merritt begins her first season as LeTourneau University's head tennis coach in Fall, 2012.

Merritt, who previously served as the YellowJackets' assistant coach, brings to the program over 15 years of experience with the USTA as a player, coach, and volunteer.

As the LeTourneau tennis assistant coach in 2011-12, Merritt helped the YellowJackets to successful seasons as both the men's and women's teams finished with winning records. Five student-athletes return to the men's team in 2012-13, and the women's squad has four returners.

Merritt's credentials include being an instructor at camps, clinics and giving lessons, and she is involved in the Quickstart program for kids 10 and under. Merritt has competed at state and national USTA tournaments, and she competed last year at a national doubles tournament in Indian Wells.

Merritt graduated from Baylor University with a general business degree. As a tennis student-athlete for the Bears, she made the starting lineup as a freshman and stayed there for the rest of her college career.

Merritt grew up in Albuquerque, N.M., on the tennis courts. She was a three-time high school district champion, and placed in the top three at the New Mexico state tournament three different years. Her first job was teaching tennis lessons for the city of Albuquerque tennis program, and she continued there every summer through high school and college.

Merritt and her husband, Ed Merritt, reside in Longview. The couple has two children, daughter Jessica LaRue (married to Alex LaRue) and son Jacob Merritt.