Makenzie Merritt enters her second season as the pitching coach for the Truman State University Softball.
Merritt made an immediate impact on the pitching staff in her first year with the Bulldogs. Under her guidance, Truman State lowered its team earned run average (ERA) by 1.03 runs per game, increased strikeout totals, and improved its standing in conference pitching statistics from the previous season. The ‘Dogs also ranked fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in shutouts during the 2024 season — highlighting the growth of the pitching staff under Merritt’s leadership.
Before joining Truman State, Merritt served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Northern State (S.D.) University. Over two seasons with the Wolves, she was instrumental in the development of the pitching staff resulting in one NSIC Pitcher of the Week honor, seven honorable mentions, and a Second Team All-Conference selection. Her leadership contributed to a 1.42 reduction in team ERA and a significant increase in staff strikeouts.
Merritt graduated from Northern State with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in Public Relations and Sociology. During her time on staff, she also played a key role in scouting reports, fundraisers, camps, and community outreach initiatives, in addition to contributing to high school and club-level development in the Aberdeen, S.D., area.
Merritt brings a strong background in pitcher development and a competitive coaching philosophy continuing to elevate Truman State’s performance in the GLVC.
