SAN MARCOS, Texas – Olympic champion and current 110-meter hurdles world record holder Aries Merritt will join the Texas State track and field staff as an assistant coach for sprints, hurdles, and relays, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country John Frazier announced Thursday.
 
"Aries Merritt is a great hire for Texas State. We have ties from being in a winning system together at the University of Tennessee, and he fully understands my goals of recruiting to help lead our program to the next level," said Frazier. "Being the current world record holder and a gold medalist ensures that he has the confidence to recruit at a level that can produce NCAA points."
 
Previously, Merritt spent two seasons (2022-24) as an assistant coach at Brown University, where he oversaw both the men's and women's sprints, hurdles, and relays.
Before joining Brown, Merritt spent 15 years as a professional athlete and earned sponsorship from Nike and Reebok.
 
In 2012, he won gold in the 110-meter hurdles at the London Olympics with a time of 12.92 seconds. Later that year, at the Diamond League meet, he set the world record in the event with a time of 12.80 seconds.
 
His time of 12.80 seconds broke the previous record by 0.07 seconds, the largest drop in the 110-meter hurdles world record since 1981.
 
Before forgoing his senior season at the University of Tennessee, Merritt found success in the hurdles during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. He was crowned the 2006 NCAA champion in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and went on to win the 110-meter hurdles championship at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
 
Aries Merritt Accomplishments 
World Records
2012-present: 110m Hurdles (12.80)
 
International Championships
2012 Olympic gold medalist (110H-12.92)
2012 World Indoor gold medalist (60H-7.44)
2011 USATF Outdoor runner-up (110H-13.12)
2004 World Junior champion (110H-13.56)

USA Championships
2013 USATF Outdoor bronze medalist (110H-13.23)
2012 Olympic Trials champion (110H-12.93)
2012 USATF Indoor champion (60H-7.43)
2009 USATF Outdoor bronze medalist (110H-13.15)

Collegiate Championships
2006 NCAA champion (110H-13.21)
2006 NCAA indoor champion (60H-7.51)

Other Awards/Honors
2012 Diamond Leagues champion
Seven-time NCAA All-American
2012 USATF Fans' Choice Awards Breakthrough Athlete of the Year