Clarence Merricks was the first baseball coach for the Eunice High School Bobcats whose coaching ability, determination and a battling spirit help earned EHS the Class 3-A state championship in 1979.
A J.S. Clark graduate, Clarence Merricks earned his bachelor’s degree from Grambling University and a Masters degree from Southern University. Merricks came to Eunice High School in the fall of 1971 as a math and science teacher. Seeing Merricks’ potential as a coach, the legendary Joe Nagata appointed Merricks to the position of assistant football coach in the summer of 1972. He was also named head baseball coach of EHS’s first baseball team. Success would soon come to the newly formed team with Merricks as its head coach and John Burson as his assistant. In 1973 the Cats made it to the semifinals and in 1979, with three straight district titles to their names, Merricks led his team to the championship. Eunice began its victory run by winning 4-0 over Jonesboro Hodge and continued by earning wins over Menard, Springhill, and Denham Springs. In a 4-3 thriller, the Cats defeated Pineville and became the Class 3-A state champions.
Clarence Merricks served as EHS’s head baseball coach from 1973-1993. He continued to serve as an assistant football coach and was part of the 1982 state champion team. Merricks went on to Opelousas High and Opelousas Catholic where he continued to successfully coach. During his career, Merricks won numerous honors including both district and parish Coach of the Year, the Dr. Martin Luther King Award, and Alpha Man of the Year by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He is a devoted husband, father and a man of great faith.
Clarence Merricks holds the crown of being a great mentor, coach, and educator whose success he attributes to his caring and faithful family and friends given to him by God.