Harold Merritt, Staten Island - President, Senior Colleges

Now in his fifth year as the College of Staten Island's Director of Athletics and Athletic Facilities, Dr. Harold Merritt oversees the school's ten-sport intercollegiate athletics program, as well as the state of the art Sports and Recreation Center. Dr. Merritt has been involved in intercollegiate athletics at the collegiate level for over 25 years. Immediately prior to his arrival at CSI, he served as Athletic Director for the city of Houston, Texas. Before that, he coached Division I basketball Northern Arizona University for four seasons.

A native of New York City, Dr. Merritt attended Columbus High School in the Bronx before attending the University of Albany, where he earning his bachelors degree, to play collegiate basketball. Upon graduation, he began his coaching career at the University of New Orleans. After a year at Long Beach State as an assistant, Merritt earned his first head-coaching job at Morris Brown College. Following three seasons with the Wolverines, Merritt moved on to take an assistant coaching position with Division I Northern Arizona University. Merritt served two years as an assistant with the Lumberjacks before being named head coach in 1990. While at Northern Arizona, Merritt went on to complete his Masters Degree in Counseling, as well as his Doctorate in Educational Leadership. This past summer, he steadied the CUNY Goodwill Basketball Tour through the Dominican Republic. Dr. Merritt also serves as an adjunct professor in the African-American Studies department at the College of Staten Island.