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Suzy Merchant
- Title:
- Head Coach
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- 353-8613
Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant has established herself as one of the premier coaches in MSU history. Merchant has proven to be one of the best coaches in Michigan State history and a force in the Big Ten Conference. She reached two milestones during the 2021-22 season, earning her 500th career win against Valparaiso on Nov. 16, 2021. Just one game later, she garnered her 300th win at the helm of the Spartans with a victory against Bryant on Nov. 19, 2021.
Entering her 16th season as head coach of the MSU women’s basketball program, Merchant has brought the Spartan program to the upper echelon of the Big Ten and national level. The Spartans have finished third or better in the Big Ten in eight of the last 15 seasons, and her conference record of 152-102 (59.8%) is in the top-12 career winning percentage in the 36-year history of the Big Ten. The Spartans have won at least 20 games in 10 of her 15 seasons.
The Great Lakes State native was hired at MSU on April 30, 2007, after spending time as a head coach at Eastern Michigan (1998-07) and Saginaw Valley State (1995-98). In her 27 years as a head coach, she has won nearly 65 percent of her games, collecting a 512-292 (.637) career record, including 311-172 (.644) in 15 seasons in East Lansing. Merchant became the fastest Spartan coach to 100 wins. She is also the winningest coach in Eastern Michigan history, compiling a 147-91 record in her nine seasons.
Through her first 15 seasons at MSU, 49 Spartans have earned All-Big Ten recognition and 76 have been named Academic All-Big Ten. A trio of Spartans have earned major Big Ten awards - Kalisha Keane was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2010-11, following up the Sixth Player of the Year award as a junior, while Lykendra Johnson (2010-11) and Allyssa DeHaan (2009-10) were named Big Ten Defensive Players of the Year. DeHaan, who finished her career second all-time in NCAA history in blocked shots, and Keane were also named All-Americans following their senior seasons. In 2013-14, Aerial Powers became the first Spartan freshman to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors. Powers went on to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2014-15 and 2015-16, as well as being named an All-American both seasons. During the 2016-17 season, Tori Jankoska became the Spartan all-time leading scorer as well as earning first-team All-Big Ten and All-American honors. During her historic 2021-22 season, Nia Clouden earned first team All-B1G honors, as well as capturing AP and WBCA honorable mention All-American honors.
Powers went on to capture her first WNBA title with the Washington Mystics in 2019.
Last season, the Spartans battled to a 15-15 record, including an 8-9 record in Big Ten action. Michigan State was faced with a slew of injuries throughout the season, including season-ending injuries to Julia Ayrault and Tory Ozment before the season even began. The season was highlighted by a 63-57 win over No. 4 Michigan at home on Feb. 10. Clouden led the way for MSU averaging 20.0 points and 4.2 assists per game, en route to becoming the second all-time leading scorer in MSU history with 1,882 points. Freshmen Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann both earned All-Freshman and honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
During the 2020-21 campaign, Michigan State endured a season unlike any other and still reached the NCAA Tournament, playing in the "bubble" in San Antonio, Texas. Despite a COVID-19 shortened season with several starts and stops, the Spartans ended the season with a 15-9 record and went 8-7 in the relentless Big Ten. Clouden led the Spartans in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game en route to first-team All-Big Ten honors. After taking the Spartans to the semifinals of the B1G Tournament, she also earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament team. Accustomed to playing in front of a raucous Breslin Center crowds, MSU also was forced to play in arenas with no fans last season.
During the abbreviated 2019-20 season, a wave of injuries struck MSU before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the hopes of any postseason run. The Spartans ended the season with a 16-14 overall record and ending B1G play with a 9-9 record. After a mid-season lull, MSU won five of the last seven to end the year. Taryn McCutcheon capped off her stellar Spartan career, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors with second-team accolades by the coaches and honorable mention by the media. Sophomore Nia Clouden, who was a standout performer all season, picked up second-team honors. McCutcheon became MSU's all-time assist leader with 582 helpers.
During the 2018-19 campaign, the Spartans had some dazzling wins with victories over No. 3 Oregon and No. 16 Iowa, as MSU was 15-1 at the Breslin Center. Michigan State ended the season with a 21-12 overall record, going 9-9 in Big Ten play. The Spartans reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to national runner-up Notre Dame. Four Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors with Shay Colley picking up first-team honors by the coaches. Jenna Allen earned second-team accolades, as Nia Clouden captured honorable mention honors and was named to the All-Freshman team. McCutcheon rounded out the group with honorable mention honors.
The 2017-18 Spartans battled injuries throughout the season and still managed to make the Sweet 16 of the WNIT, ending the season with a 19-14 mark and a 7-9 Big Ten record. MSU earned its first-ever win over Maryland on Jan. 11. Four Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors: Branndais Agee, Allen, Colley and McCutcheon earned honorable mention honors. Once again, Michigan State continued to fill the Breslin Center, finishing 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in attendance, averaging 5,689 fans per game.
During the 2016-17 season, Michigan State reached the NCAA Tournament with a 21-12 record, including going 9-7 in Big Ten action. The year was filled with more record-breaking performances as Jankoska became the first Spartan to score over 2,000 points. Four Spartans were honored with All-Big Ten honors. Jankoska was named first-team All-Big Ten, while Agee, Taya Reimer and McCutcheon were named to the honorable mention squad. MSU finished eighth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in attendance, averaging 6,011 fans per game.
The 2015-16 season was a return to form for the Spartans, as MSU ended the season with a 25-9 overall record. Michigan State ended league play 13-5, which was good for third place in the ultra-competative Big Ten Conference. Powers was once again named to the first team, while Tori Jankoska was named to the second team. Both Agee and Jasmine Hines earned honorable mention honors. Against Minnesota on Feb. 21, Merchant earned her 400th win as a head coach. The Spartans continue to pack the stands, finishing seventh in the NCAA in attendance with an average of 6,561 fans per game.
The 2014-15 Spartans suffered through an injury-plagued season, finishing 16-15 overall and 7-11 in Big Ten action. Powers and Jankoska earned All-Big Ten honors with Powers being named to the first team and Jankoska to the second. The Spartans finished 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in attendance, averaging 6,119 fans per game.
In 2013-14, MSU captured a share of the Big Ten title with a 23-10 overall record and a stellar 13-3 league record. The Green and White posted its 11th-straight 20-win season. The Spartans qualified for the “Big Dance” for a school-record sixth-straight season, advancing to the second round. Powers was also named to the All-Freshman team, while Annalise Pickrel was named to the second-team, Klarissa Bell, Jankoska and Bella Mills picked up honorable mention honors.
In 2012-13, Michigan State overcame adversity to go 25-9, the third-most wins in program history. MSU went 10-6 in Big Ten play to tie for third and won at least 10 conference games for the 11th-straight season. They made it to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game for the first time under Merchant and for just the second time in program history. Three Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors with junior Bell being named to the third team, and senior Jasmine Thomas and sophomore Kiana Johnson added as honorable mention selections. Also, the team had a program-record seven Academic All-Big Ten honors.
In 2011-12, the Spartans continued their string of 20-win seasons, going 20-12 and advancing to their fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament. MSU went 11-5 in conference play to tie for second in the Big Ten. Seniors Lykendra Johnson and Porsche Poole earned second team All-Big Ten accolades. With the win over Oakland (Nov. 27), Merchant became the fastest head coach to 100 wins as a Spartan, needing only 143 games.
Merchant put her stamp on the Spartan program during the 2010-11 season, leading the Spartans to their first outright Big Ten title in school history. MSU went 13-3, winning the conference by two games. The Spartans went 27-6, recording the second-most wins in program history, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round. Merchant was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the conference’s coaches and media, becoming the third Spartan coach to earn that honor.
In 2009-10, Merchant topped the 20-win plateau for the sixth-straight season and for the seventh time in her career. The Spartans advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round and finished the regular season second in the Big Ten for the second-straight season. In addition to the two major award winners (Keane and Johnson), four Spartans were named All-Big Ten and Lauren Aitch was the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, the first MSU women’s basketball player to earn the award.
During the 2008-09 season, the Spartans earned a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 with wins over No. 1-seed Duke and No. 8-seed Middle Tennessee; Merchant’s first career NCAA Tournament win. She led the Spartans to a 13-5 record in the Big Ten, tying them for second in the conference. The wins tie for the second most in program history, while the finish is the best since the 2004-05 Big Ten Championship. Six Spartans earned postseason Big Ten accolades, led by Allyssa DeHaan taking home second team All-Big Ten honors. After the season, Merchant was named the Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Women’s College Coach of the Year for the second time in her career.
In her first season at Michigan State, Merchant took the youngest team in the Big Ten to its seventh-straight postseason trip, advancing to the championship game of the WNIT, and tied for the most wins (23) by a first-year Spartan basketball coach in MSU history. In addition, the Spartans won 10 conference games for the sixth consecutive season and advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the fifth-straight year. Individually, Allyssa DeHaan earned first team All-Big Ten honors, while a pair of freshmen - Kalisha Keane and Brittney Thomas - were honorable mention all-conference and on the All-Freshman Team.
Merchant has accumulated international experience as well during her time at MSU. In the summer of 2009, she spent time with USA Basketball as an assistant coach for the Women’s World University Games team in Belgrade, Serbia. Team USA went undefeated and took home the Gold medal, topping Russia, 83-64 in the championship game. In the summer of 2019, Merchant was the head coach of the U.S. Pan American team that captured the silver medal in Lima, Peru. The team went 4-1, falling to Brazil in the championship game.
In all her years in the Greater Lansing area, Merchant has gone to great lengths to become an integral part of the community. In her time off the court and out of the office, Merchant can be seen at many community service events in the Great Lansing area. She has been an Honorary Chair for numerous events, including Ele’s Place, Sparrow Foundation’s Hike for Hospice, Women Working Wonders, MSU Children’s Health Initiative, Women’s Center of Lansing, Haven House, Ronald McDonald House, Advent House Ministries, Old Newsboys’ Shoe and Coat Drive, and Muscular Dystrophy Association.
In 2016, Merchant helped create the EmpowHER Retreat. EmpowHER is designed to build confidence in girls by providing interactive workshops concentrated on the importance of self-empowerment, confidence, health and wellness and relationship building. In 2018, Merchant was honored with the ATHENA Leadership Award by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. The award honors individuals who strive towards the highest levels of professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community, and who pave paths for other women to follow. In 2019, Merchant was invited by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve as an advisory member of the Michigan Task Force on Women in Sports which is dedicated to developing policies, programs, and recommended investments to support and promote opportunities for girls and women in sports in Michigan. In 2021, Merchant earned the inaugural Community Impact Award by the Davies Project on Thursday for her continued work with the EmpowHER Retreat.
During her tenure with the Eagles, Merchant guided Eastern Michigan to a record of 147-91 (.618), including three 20-win seasons, three postseason appearances and two Mid-American Conference West Division titles. Before coaching at Eastern Michigan, Merchant spent three seasons at Saginaw Valley State, posting a 54-29 (.651) record. Prior to becoming a head coach, Merchant was the top assistant for three years at Oakland University (1992-95).
A four-year starter and three-year captain at Central Michigan (1987-91), Merchant holds Chippewa records for assists with 463 and single-season assists with 156, and is tied for first in single-game assists with 11. She also finished her career third-best in made 3-point field goals with 75.
A native of Traverse City, Michigan, Merchant was a three-sport standout at Traverse City Central High School, lettering in basketball, volleyball and softball. She earned honorable mention All-America honors by USA Today and was a two-time Class A all-state selection in basketball. She also earned all-state honors in volleyball. During the summer of 2010, she was inducted into the Traverse City Central H.S. Hall of Fame.
Entering her 16th season as head coach of the MSU women’s basketball program, Merchant has brought the Spartan program to the upper echelon of the Big Ten and national level. The Spartans have finished third or better in the Big Ten in eight of the last 15 seasons, and her conference record of 152-102 (59.8%) is in the top-12 career winning percentage in the 36-year history of the Big Ten. The Spartans have won at least 20 games in 10 of her 15 seasons.
The Great Lakes State native was hired at MSU on April 30, 2007, after spending time as a head coach at Eastern Michigan (1998-07) and Saginaw Valley State (1995-98). In her 27 years as a head coach, she has won nearly 65 percent of her games, collecting a 512-292 (.637) career record, including 311-172 (.644) in 15 seasons in East Lansing. Merchant became the fastest Spartan coach to 100 wins. She is also the winningest coach in Eastern Michigan history, compiling a 147-91 record in her nine seasons.
Through her first 15 seasons at MSU, 49 Spartans have earned All-Big Ten recognition and 76 have been named Academic All-Big Ten. A trio of Spartans have earned major Big Ten awards - Kalisha Keane was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2010-11, following up the Sixth Player of the Year award as a junior, while Lykendra Johnson (2010-11) and Allyssa DeHaan (2009-10) were named Big Ten Defensive Players of the Year. DeHaan, who finished her career second all-time in NCAA history in blocked shots, and Keane were also named All-Americans following their senior seasons. In 2013-14, Aerial Powers became the first Spartan freshman to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors. Powers went on to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2014-15 and 2015-16, as well as being named an All-American both seasons. During the 2016-17 season, Tori Jankoska became the Spartan all-time leading scorer as well as earning first-team All-Big Ten and All-American honors. During her historic 2021-22 season, Nia Clouden earned first team All-B1G honors, as well as capturing AP and WBCA honorable mention All-American honors.
Powers went on to capture her first WNBA title with the Washington Mystics in 2019.
Last season, the Spartans battled to a 15-15 record, including an 8-9 record in Big Ten action. Michigan State was faced with a slew of injuries throughout the season, including season-ending injuries to Julia Ayrault and Tory Ozment before the season even began. The season was highlighted by a 63-57 win over No. 4 Michigan at home on Feb. 10. Clouden led the way for MSU averaging 20.0 points and 4.2 assists per game, en route to becoming the second all-time leading scorer in MSU history with 1,882 points. Freshmen Matilda Ekh and DeeDee Hagemann both earned All-Freshman and honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
During the 2020-21 campaign, Michigan State endured a season unlike any other and still reached the NCAA Tournament, playing in the "bubble" in San Antonio, Texas. Despite a COVID-19 shortened season with several starts and stops, the Spartans ended the season with a 15-9 record and went 8-7 in the relentless Big Ten. Clouden led the Spartans in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game en route to first-team All-Big Ten honors. After taking the Spartans to the semifinals of the B1G Tournament, she also earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament team. Accustomed to playing in front of a raucous Breslin Center crowds, MSU also was forced to play in arenas with no fans last season.
During the abbreviated 2019-20 season, a wave of injuries struck MSU before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the hopes of any postseason run. The Spartans ended the season with a 16-14 overall record and ending B1G play with a 9-9 record. After a mid-season lull, MSU won five of the last seven to end the year. Taryn McCutcheon capped off her stellar Spartan career, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors with second-team accolades by the coaches and honorable mention by the media. Sophomore Nia Clouden, who was a standout performer all season, picked up second-team honors. McCutcheon became MSU's all-time assist leader with 582 helpers.
During the 2018-19 campaign, the Spartans had some dazzling wins with victories over No. 3 Oregon and No. 16 Iowa, as MSU was 15-1 at the Breslin Center. Michigan State ended the season with a 21-12 overall record, going 9-9 in Big Ten play. The Spartans reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to national runner-up Notre Dame. Four Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors with Shay Colley picking up first-team honors by the coaches. Jenna Allen earned second-team accolades, as Nia Clouden captured honorable mention honors and was named to the All-Freshman team. McCutcheon rounded out the group with honorable mention honors.
The 2017-18 Spartans battled injuries throughout the season and still managed to make the Sweet 16 of the WNIT, ending the season with a 19-14 mark and a 7-9 Big Ten record. MSU earned its first-ever win over Maryland on Jan. 11. Four Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors: Branndais Agee, Allen, Colley and McCutcheon earned honorable mention honors. Once again, Michigan State continued to fill the Breslin Center, finishing 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in attendance, averaging 5,689 fans per game.
During the 2016-17 season, Michigan State reached the NCAA Tournament with a 21-12 record, including going 9-7 in Big Ten action. The year was filled with more record-breaking performances as Jankoska became the first Spartan to score over 2,000 points. Four Spartans were honored with All-Big Ten honors. Jankoska was named first-team All-Big Ten, while Agee, Taya Reimer and McCutcheon were named to the honorable mention squad. MSU finished eighth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in attendance, averaging 6,011 fans per game.
The 2015-16 season was a return to form for the Spartans, as MSU ended the season with a 25-9 overall record. Michigan State ended league play 13-5, which was good for third place in the ultra-competative Big Ten Conference. Powers was once again named to the first team, while Tori Jankoska was named to the second team. Both Agee and Jasmine Hines earned honorable mention honors. Against Minnesota on Feb. 21, Merchant earned her 400th win as a head coach. The Spartans continue to pack the stands, finishing seventh in the NCAA in attendance with an average of 6,561 fans per game.
The 2014-15 Spartans suffered through an injury-plagued season, finishing 16-15 overall and 7-11 in Big Ten action. Powers and Jankoska earned All-Big Ten honors with Powers being named to the first team and Jankoska to the second. The Spartans finished 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in attendance, averaging 6,119 fans per game.
In 2013-14, MSU captured a share of the Big Ten title with a 23-10 overall record and a stellar 13-3 league record. The Green and White posted its 11th-straight 20-win season. The Spartans qualified for the “Big Dance” for a school-record sixth-straight season, advancing to the second round. Powers was also named to the All-Freshman team, while Annalise Pickrel was named to the second-team, Klarissa Bell, Jankoska and Bella Mills picked up honorable mention honors.
In 2012-13, Michigan State overcame adversity to go 25-9, the third-most wins in program history. MSU went 10-6 in Big Ten play to tie for third and won at least 10 conference games for the 11th-straight season. They made it to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game for the first time under Merchant and for just the second time in program history. Three Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors with junior Bell being named to the third team, and senior Jasmine Thomas and sophomore Kiana Johnson added as honorable mention selections. Also, the team had a program-record seven Academic All-Big Ten honors.
In 2011-12, the Spartans continued their string of 20-win seasons, going 20-12 and advancing to their fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament. MSU went 11-5 in conference play to tie for second in the Big Ten. Seniors Lykendra Johnson and Porsche Poole earned second team All-Big Ten accolades. With the win over Oakland (Nov. 27), Merchant became the fastest head coach to 100 wins as a Spartan, needing only 143 games.
Merchant put her stamp on the Spartan program during the 2010-11 season, leading the Spartans to their first outright Big Ten title in school history. MSU went 13-3, winning the conference by two games. The Spartans went 27-6, recording the second-most wins in program history, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round. Merchant was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the conference’s coaches and media, becoming the third Spartan coach to earn that honor.
In 2009-10, Merchant topped the 20-win plateau for the sixth-straight season and for the seventh time in her career. The Spartans advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round and finished the regular season second in the Big Ten for the second-straight season. In addition to the two major award winners (Keane and Johnson), four Spartans were named All-Big Ten and Lauren Aitch was the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner, the first MSU women’s basketball player to earn the award.
During the 2008-09 season, the Spartans earned a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 with wins over No. 1-seed Duke and No. 8-seed Middle Tennessee; Merchant’s first career NCAA Tournament win. She led the Spartans to a 13-5 record in the Big Ten, tying them for second in the conference. The wins tie for the second most in program history, while the finish is the best since the 2004-05 Big Ten Championship. Six Spartans earned postseason Big Ten accolades, led by Allyssa DeHaan taking home second team All-Big Ten honors. After the season, Merchant was named the Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Women’s College Coach of the Year for the second time in her career.
In her first season at Michigan State, Merchant took the youngest team in the Big Ten to its seventh-straight postseason trip, advancing to the championship game of the WNIT, and tied for the most wins (23) by a first-year Spartan basketball coach in MSU history. In addition, the Spartans won 10 conference games for the sixth consecutive season and advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the fifth-straight year. Individually, Allyssa DeHaan earned first team All-Big Ten honors, while a pair of freshmen - Kalisha Keane and Brittney Thomas - were honorable mention all-conference and on the All-Freshman Team.
Merchant has accumulated international experience as well during her time at MSU. In the summer of 2009, she spent time with USA Basketball as an assistant coach for the Women’s World University Games team in Belgrade, Serbia. Team USA went undefeated and took home the Gold medal, topping Russia, 83-64 in the championship game. In the summer of 2019, Merchant was the head coach of the U.S. Pan American team that captured the silver medal in Lima, Peru. The team went 4-1, falling to Brazil in the championship game.
In all her years in the Greater Lansing area, Merchant has gone to great lengths to become an integral part of the community. In her time off the court and out of the office, Merchant can be seen at many community service events in the Great Lansing area. She has been an Honorary Chair for numerous events, including Ele’s Place, Sparrow Foundation’s Hike for Hospice, Women Working Wonders, MSU Children’s Health Initiative, Women’s Center of Lansing, Haven House, Ronald McDonald House, Advent House Ministries, Old Newsboys’ Shoe and Coat Drive, and Muscular Dystrophy Association.
In 2016, Merchant helped create the EmpowHER Retreat. EmpowHER is designed to build confidence in girls by providing interactive workshops concentrated on the importance of self-empowerment, confidence, health and wellness and relationship building. In 2018, Merchant was honored with the ATHENA Leadership Award by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. The award honors individuals who strive towards the highest levels of professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community, and who pave paths for other women to follow. In 2019, Merchant was invited by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve as an advisory member of the Michigan Task Force on Women in Sports which is dedicated to developing policies, programs, and recommended investments to support and promote opportunities for girls and women in sports in Michigan. In 2021, Merchant earned the inaugural Community Impact Award by the Davies Project on Thursday for her continued work with the EmpowHER Retreat.
During her tenure with the Eagles, Merchant guided Eastern Michigan to a record of 147-91 (.618), including three 20-win seasons, three postseason appearances and two Mid-American Conference West Division titles. Before coaching at Eastern Michigan, Merchant spent three seasons at Saginaw Valley State, posting a 54-29 (.651) record. Prior to becoming a head coach, Merchant was the top assistant for three years at Oakland University (1992-95).
A four-year starter and three-year captain at Central Michigan (1987-91), Merchant holds Chippewa records for assists with 463 and single-season assists with 156, and is tied for first in single-game assists with 11. She also finished her career third-best in made 3-point field goals with 75.
A native of Traverse City, Michigan, Merchant was a three-sport standout at Traverse City Central High School, lettering in basketball, volleyball and softball. She earned honorable mention All-America honors by USA Today and was a two-time Class A all-state selection in basketball. She also earned all-state honors in volleyball. During the summer of 2010, she was inducted into the Traverse City Central H.S. Hall of Fame.
THE MERCHANT FILE
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: Assistant Coach at Oakland University (1992-95); Head Coach at Saginaw Valley State University (1995-98); Head Coach at Eastern Michigan University (1998-2007).
FAMILY: Husband, Gary Rakan and sons, Tyler and Brady Rakan.
COACHING RECORD: 512-292 (.637) in 27 years as a head coach
54-29 at Saginaw Valley State University (1995-98)
147-91 at Eastern Michigan University (1998-2007)
311-172 at Michigan State (2008-Current)
64-23 as assistant coach at Oakland (1992-95)
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in health/fitness from Central Michigan in 1991; master's degree in educational leadership from Saginaw Valley State in 2000.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Four-year starter and three-year captain at Central Michigan (1987-91).
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: 1997 NCAA Division II Tournament, 2004 NCAA Tournament, 2005 WNIT, 2006 WNIT, 2008 WNIT, 2009 NCAA Sweet 16, 2010 NCAA Second Round, 2011 NCAA Second Round, 2012 NCAA Tournament, 2013 NCAA Tournament Second Round, 2014 NCAA Tournament Second Round, 2016 NCAA Tournament Second Round, 2017 NCAA Tournament, 2018 WNIT Sweet 16, 2019 NCAA Second Round, 2021 First Round.
INTERNATIONAL COACHING EXPERIENCE: Won Gold as an assistant coach with USA Basketball at the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia. Captured a Silver medal as a coach with USA Basketball at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
MERCHANT'S YEAR-BY-YEAR HEAD COACHING RECORD
| Year | School | Overall Record | Conference Record (Finish) | Postseason | ||
| 1995-96 | Saginaw Valley State | 15-11 | 9-9 (T-7th, GLIAC) | - | ||
| 1996-97 | Saginaw Valley State | 19-11 | 10-8 (3rd, GLIAC North) | NCAA Div. II Tournament | ||
| 1997-98 | Saginaw Valley State | 20-7 | 12-6 (T-3rd, GLIAC North) | - | ||
| 1998-99 | Eastern Michigan | 14-13 | 8-8 (3rd, MAC West) | - | ||
| 1999-00 | Eastern Michigan | 16-14 | 8-8 (T-3rd, MAC West) | - | ||
| 2000-01 | Eastern Michigan | 16-12 | 9-7 (4th, MAC West) | - | ||
| 2001-02 | Eastern Michigan | 18-11 | 10-6 (T-4th, MAC West) | - | ||
| 2002-03 | Eastern Michigan | 13-16 | 9-7 (4th, MAC West) | - | ||
| 2003-04 | Eastern Michigan | 22-8 | 12-4 (1st, MAC West) | NCAA Tournament | ||
| 2004-05 | Eastern Michigan | 23-8 | 11-5 (2nd, MAC West) | WNIT | ||
| 2005-06 | Eastern Michigan | 22-8 | 15-1 (1st, MAC West) | WNIT | ||
| 2006-07 | Eastern Michigan * | 3-1 | - | - | ||
| 2007-08 | Michigan State | 23-14 | 10-8 (t-5th, Big Ten) | WNIT Title Game | ||
| 2008-09 | Michigan State | 22-11 | 13-5 (t-2nd, Big Ten) | NCAA Sweet 16 | ||
| 2009-10 | Michigan State | 23-10 | 12-6 (2nd, Big Ten) | NCAA Second Round | ||
| 2010-11 | Michigan State | 27-6 | 13-3 (1st, Big Ten) | NCAA Second Round | ||
| 2011-12 | Michigan State | 20-12 | 11-5 (t-2nd, Big Ten) | NCAA First Round | ||
| 2012-13 | Michigan State | 25-9 | 10-6 (t-3rd, Big Ten) | NCAA Second Round | ||
| 2013-14 | Michigan State | 23-10 | 13-3 (t-1st, Big Ten) | NCAA Second Round | ||
| 2014-15 | Michigan State | 16-15 | 7-11 (9th, Big Ten) | - | ||
| 2015-16 | Michigan State | 25-9 | 13-5 (3rd, Big Ten) | NCAA Second Round | ||
| 2016-17 | Michigan State | 21-12 | 9-7 (t-6th, Big Ten) | NCAA First Round | ||
| 2017-18 | Michigan State | 19-14 |
|
WNIT Third Round | ||
| 2018-19 | Michigan State | 21-12 | 9-9 (t-6th, Big Ten) | NCAA Second Round | ||
| 2019-20 | Michigan State | 16-14 | 9-9 (8th, Big Ten) | - | ||
| 2020-21 | Michigan State | 15-9 | 8-7 (8th, Big Ten) | NCAA First Round | ||
| 2021-22 | Michigan State | 15-15 | 8-9 (8th, Big Ten) | - | ||
| Totals | 25 years | 512-292 (.636) |
10 NCAA, 4 WNIT |
* Missed all but four games of 2006-07 while on maternity leave.
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