| Earl J. Merritt | |
| Birth Date: | 9 August 1896 |
| Birth Place: | Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Death Place: | La Verne, California, U.S. |
| Player Sport1: | Football |
| Player Years2: | 1923–1924 |
| Player Team2: | Pomona |
| Player Sport3: | Basketball |
| Player Team4: | Pomona |
| Player Sport5: | Baseball |
| Player Team6: | Pomona |
| Player Sport7: | Track |
| Player Team8: | Pomona |
| Player Positions: | Quarterback (football) Center fielder (baseball) |
| Coach Sport1: | Football |
| Coach Years2: | 1925–1934 |
| Coach Team2: | Pomona (freshmen) |
| Coach Years3: | 1935–1958 |
| Coach Team3: | Pomona/Pomona-Claremont |
| Overall Record: | 93–67–13 |
| Championships: | 6 SCC/SCIAC (1938, 1942, 1950, 1953–1955) |
Earl Jay "Fuzz" Merritt (August 9, 1896 – July 7, 1986) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Pomona College in Claremont, California, from 1935 to 1958, compiling a record of 93–67–13. Merritt also coached basketball and baseball at Pomona.[1]
Merritt attended Pomona, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He played quarterback on the football team and as a center fielder on the baseball team. In track, he participated in the hammer throw, discus throw, and pole vault.[2]
Following his graduation in 1925, Merritt joined Pomona's coaching staff. He coached the freshman football team for ten seasons before succeeding Eugene W. Nixon as head coach of the varsity football team in 1935.[3] [4]
In December 1960, Merrit was elected to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.[5] He died on July 7, 1986.[6] The football field of the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens was renamed Merritt Field in his honor in 1991.[7] [8]