This Ellsworth native was the epitome of class as a player, coach, official, and administrator. Del Merrill spent his entire life involved with sports, particularly basketball, where his reputation as an official was without peer. Del was involved with Husson College from its earliest beginnings. He returned to Husson in 1953, where he served as a teacher and coached baseball and basketball. He is widely credited with building the school’s athletic department. Also, during this period, he served as the Director of Athletics. In basketball, his Husson teams won 197 games and lost 86. They won seven NCC championships and two Maine state small college crowns. He was named president of Husson College in 1978 and often credited his years of coaching as good preparation for being a college president.
