Women's Basketball: Coaching Staff

Women's Basketball Coaching Staff

Robin Farris-
A 1979 graduate of Tiffin University, Farris was the most valuable player (MVP), leading scorer, and captain of a team that captured the Mid-Ohio Conference basketball crown his senior season in college. He ranked eighth in scoring for the NAIA with an average of 26.8 points per game. After graduation he was awarded the title of assistant basketball coach and head baseball coach at his alma mater.

In 1979 Farris embarked on a nine-year stint on the European basketball circuit; seven years as a player, and two as a coach. He played professionally for six years in England and one year in Scotland. Farris coached men’s and women’s Division I teams in Norway from 1986-88, and his 1988 women’s team captured the national junior title. Farris was recognized for all of his great work in 1995 when he was inducted into the Tiffin University Hall of Fame.

Coach Farris enters his 20^th season as a coach for IU Southeast and has led the Grenadiers to seven KIAC championships, three regional championships, and four trips to the NAIA National Tournament during his tenure. His 2001-02 squad advanced to the NAIA Sweet Sixteen, a goal for the top programs in the country. He has also been named KIAC Coach of the Year eight times while compiling a 313-252 record at the IU Southeast in 19 seasons, and an overall record of 363-282. Coach Farris also served 16 seasons as head coach of the IU Southeast Volleyball program compiling a record of 328-193. IU Southeast volleyball took four trips to the NAIA National Tournament under his helm.

Bernie Merkel-
Bernie Merkel is a 1982 graduate of Indiana University Southeast where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and was a member of the men’s basketball team, under the guidance of former IU Southeast coach Jim Morris from 1978 to 1982. During his career as a Grenadier, he twice won the Ron John's Mental Attitude Award.

Merkel has been an assistant coach for the women's basketball team since 1992. His other coaching experiences involve several years of coaching girls AAU basketball and various girls’ basketball city leagues.

Merkel is employed by Parsons in Louisville, KY as a Medical Equipment Planner. He and his wife Lisa have two daughters, Shelli and Emily, along with three grandsons, Max, Jake, and Trevor.