Spring Break
Basketball player honored
Spectator Staff
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: University Briefs
The widow of Blugold Basketball Hall of Fame member Joe Merten has endowed a coaching stipend fund for the UW-Eau Claire department of athletics.
Joe Merten, who played basketball for Eau Claire from 1977 to 1981 under coach Ken Anderson, died in March 2008. Susan Merten, Joe's widow, established the Joe Merten Coaching Award in her late husband's memory.
The Joe Merten Coaching Award will give $600 to a Blugold part-time assistant coach or graduate assistant coach who demonstrates a deep commitment to student athletes and embodies a passion for lifelong learning and love of the game.
The endowment fund is given as recognition of Joe Merten's love of young people and his love of sports.
Merten started 98 of the 113 games in which he played for the Blugolds. Throughout his career, Merten scored 1,193 points and 439 assists, which still rank among the top 20 in each respective categories. Merten also recorded 598 rebounds in his career. Merten was named to the All-Conference three times and to the NAIA All-District team twice.
In 1981, Merten was drafted by the Utah Jazz. He was later invited to the Milwaukee Bucks' training camp that year and was the last player cut from the team.
In 1981-82, Merten played for the Continental Basketball Association's (CBA) Alberta Dusters and earned a spot in the CBA All-Star Game.
Merten graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in business. In 1985-86, he became the youngest head coach in the CBA as coach of the Oshkosh Flyers. For the past 25 years he was employed at Menards and was a sales representative.
The first award will be made this fall at the Athletics Hall of Fame dinner.
Joe Merten, who played basketball for Eau Claire from 1977 to 1981 under coach Ken Anderson, died in March 2008. Susan Merten, Joe's widow, established the Joe Merten Coaching Award in her late husband's memory.
The Joe Merten Coaching Award will give $600 to a Blugold part-time assistant coach or graduate assistant coach who demonstrates a deep commitment to student athletes and embodies a passion for lifelong learning and love of the game.
The endowment fund is given as recognition of Joe Merten's love of young people and his love of sports.
Merten started 98 of the 113 games in which he played for the Blugolds. Throughout his career, Merten scored 1,193 points and 439 assists, which still rank among the top 20 in each respective categories. Merten also recorded 598 rebounds in his career. Merten was named to the All-Conference three times and to the NAIA All-District team twice.
In 1981, Merten was drafted by the Utah Jazz. He was later invited to the Milwaukee Bucks' training camp that year and was the last player cut from the team.
In 1981-82, Merten played for the Continental Basketball Association's (CBA) Alberta Dusters and earned a spot in the CBA All-Star Game.
Merten graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in business. In 1985-86, he became the youngest head coach in the CBA as coach of the Oshkosh Flyers. For the past 25 years he was employed at Menards and was a sales representative.
The first award will be made this fall at the Athletics Hall of Fame dinner.
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susmerten@wwt.net
posted 12/15/08 @ 6:48 PM CST
He was a wonderful man. Caring and kind. I am his wife.
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