James Merriman (soccer)
Canadian soccer coach, born 1985
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Merriman is a Canadian soccer coach and former player. He most recently served as the head coach of Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League.
|
Merriman in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | June 9, 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Pacific FC (head coach) | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2006 | Denver Pioneers | ≥54 | (≥5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006 | Boulder Rapids Reserve | 9 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Colorado Lightning (indoor) | 4 | (4) |
| 2010 | Victoria Highlanders FC | 8 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2009–2011 | VIU Mariners (assistant) | ||
| 2012–2013 | Simon Fraser athletics (assistant) | ||
| 2019–2021 | Pacific FC (assistant) | ||
| 2022–2026 | Pacific FC | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Merriman played NCAA Division I soccer with the University of Denver Pioneers.[1] His senior career included stints with Boulder Rapids Reserve, Victoria Highlanders FC, and Colorado Lightning.[2][3]
Coaching career
Early career
Merriman served as assistant coach of Vancouver Island University under his father Bill Merriman from 2009 to 2011 and at Simon Fraser University from 2012 to 2013.[2] He also coached in various roles with the Whitecaps FC Academy.
Pacific FC
James Merriman was hired as an assistant coach under Michael Silberbauer for the inaugural season of Pacific FC and the Canadian Premier League. That 2019 season was disappointing for Pacific, and Silberbauer was fired before Pacific's final game of the year.[4] This gave Merriman the opportunity to take the reins as interim manager, and he managed Pacific to a 2–0 victory over Valour FC to close out the season in fifth place.[5]
Ahead of the 2020 season, Pacific hired Pa-Modou Kah as the new head coach and retained Merriman as his assistant.[6] The season saw improvement for Pacific as the club finished the CPL season in fourth.
The 2021 season was even better as Pacific managed to win the 2021 Canadian Premier League Final to become league champions and also went on an impressive run in the Canadian Championship. Following the season, Kah departed the club to manage North Texas SC and Merriman was named as Pacific's new head coach.[7]