ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - NC Wesleyan College Director of Athletics Aaron Denton and women's lacrosse head coach Bridget Walker have named Evan Merrill as the new assistant coach for the Battling Bishop lacrosse program.

Merrill joins fifth-year coach Walker in her efforts to continue to build the program, which began competition in the spring of 2018.

 "I am extremely excited for the opportunity to work with the Women's Lacrosse Program at North Carolina Wesleyan," commented Merrill. "After seeing the culture at NCWC and learning about the foundation coach Walker has built, I have nothing but high expectations for what we will be able to achieve as a team."

 "I am happy to welcome Evan Merrill as our new women's lacrosse assistant coach. Evan brings a ton of passion for the game and new ideas from the similarities of the men's game," said head coach Bridget Walker.

Merrill joins the Bishops after most recently serving as the head men's lacrosse coach at D-2 Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia. Merrill was elevated to Head Coach following the 2017-2018 season where he served as an assistant. He led the team to a 3-5 record in 2021 in his final season as head coach. 
 
In his first season with the Senators, Merrill's primary focus was with the defense and faceoff aspects of the team, serving as the Defensive Coordinator, but he assisted in all elements of the lacrosse program including a heavy emphasis on recruiting. He also assisted the Women's Lacrosse program at DEC as often as possible, working with goalies and on skill development.

Merrill joined N.C. Wesleyan after a successful collegiate career at D-3 Virginia Wesleyan College in Virginia Beach, where he played from 2013-17.  The defenseman started all four years and was the team captain in the 2016-17 season. 

Evan graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College in the spring of 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business with a Concentration in Accounting and a GPA over 3.6.

The Westminster, Maryland native was a member of the ODAC Conference All-Academic Team all four years of his collegiate career. Merrill was also member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, helping to organize fundraising events and promoting athletic events.
 
Merrill served as a lacrosse and soccer coach with Gamber Optimist in Westminster, Maryland for two years. Merrill also spent four years coaching with Marlin Lacrosse camps in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
 
Evan and his wife Colleen also married in 2020.