Lawrence Technological University

Griffin Mertz was named the head coach of the men's and women's tennis program's in June of 2022 after serving as the interim head coach for the spring 2022 season after Head Coach Steve Behmlander's retirement in October of 2021. Mertz originally joined the program as an assistant coach for 2019-20.

The Wayne State alum coached the men to an overall record of 9-10 (3-3 WHAC) this past spring. Mertz mentored two Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team members in Nils Hammarsten and Evan Morgan. Furthermore, Morgan was also named the league’s Newcomer of the Year. The Blue Devils earned a WHAC Tournament bid but lost to Cornerstone 2-4 in the first round.

On the women's side, LTU finished with a 6-9 overall mark (2-4 WHAC) under Mertz with a difficult spring slate that included two losses to NCAA Division I foes in Eastern Michigan and Wayne State. Under his tutelage, Olga Aliagas Mejina earned All-Conference First Team and Newcomer of the Year honors. The women’s squad also fell in the first round of the WHAC Tournament, losing to Aquinas College 3-4. 
 

Mertz played Division I tennis at the University of Detroit Mercy before transferring to Division II Wayne State University. He finished his career with an overall singles record of 53-27 (5th all-time) and a doubles record of 49-30 (11th all-time). He is also one of only nine players to garner 100 total match wins in WSU history.
 

In his junior year, Mertz achieved a ranking of #70 in the Division II ITA national singles rankings before earning a ranking of #23 during his senior year in the Division II ITA national doubles rankings.
 

Mertz was part of the 2018-2019 WSU team that went on to win the GLIAC regular season and conference championship for the first time since 1981. 
 

Along with his playing career, Mertz is also a USPTA certified tennis professional as well as a PPR certified pickleball coach. He currently works at Franklin Athletic Club in Southfield, Michigan working with players of all ages and levels since December 2018.