Preston Merriman enters his second year as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Cameron University, where he oversees the physical development and daily strength and conditioning operations for all 13 Aggie athletic programs.
Since arriving at Cameron, Merriman has worked to establish a unified, athlete-centered performance system built around purposeful training, clear standards, and strong collaboration with sport coaches and Sports Medicine. He is responsible for the design, implementation, and evaluation of year-round training programs that address the specific demands of each sport while accounting for the individual needs, training age, injury history, competitive schedule, and long-term development of each student-athlete.
Merriman’s coaching philosophy is centered on the principle of adaptation before method. Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all programming or becoming overly committed to particular exercises, he begins by identifying the physical qualities an athlete or team needs most and then selects the simplest and most effective methods to create those adaptations. His programs emphasize strength, speed, explosiveness, movement competency, conditioning, physical resilience, and the ability to perform consistently throughout the competitive season.
In addition to developing athletes, Merriman places a strong emphasis on building culture and developing future coaches. His approach combines high expectations with genuine care, holding athletes accountable while ensuring they understand the purpose behind their training. He also oversees the education and development of Cameron’s graduate assistants and interns, preparing them to lead teams, communicate professionally, and make sound programming and coaching decisions.
Before joining Cameron, Merriman worked in the strength and conditioning department at Brigham Young University, where he supported a wide range of NCAA Division I Olympic sports, including baseball, softball, women’s soccer, track and field sprinters and throwers, men’s and women’s diving, and men’s rugby. He also assisted with football, contributing to warm-ups, speed-development sessions, and on-field movement preparation. During his time at BYU, he helped execute daily training plans, in-season programs, and long-term development strategies for athletes across multiple sports and position groups.
Merriman also worked with BYU Student Wellness, where he coached students in fitness, nutrition, and long-term lifestyle behavior change. That experience helped shape his belief that strength and conditioning should prepare athletes not only for competition, but also for life after collegiate sports.
A native of Kingsville, Texas, Merriman earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Brigham Young University. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is certified in CPR, AED, and First Aid.
Merriman and his wife, Kylee, have one year old son named Grant.
