Bill Mertz had a successful rookie year as head basketball coach at Holy Child, guiding the Tigers to first place in the Independent School League’s A Division and a 20-10 record.
But next year, when Holy Child advances to the tougher ISL AA, it will do so with another coach. Mertz has stepped down to take an assistant coaching job with Catholic University’s women’s basketball team, for whom his daughter, Shannon, plays.
“He did a great job, we hate to lose him,” said Holy Child athletic director Sheila Wooters. “The chance to coach his daughter was too tough to pass up.”
Shannon Mertz, a Georgetown Visitation grad and two-year starter at Catholic, led the Cardinals (19-9) with a 12.5 points-per-game average last season and was second in field goal percentage (.506) and rebounds (5.9). The 5-foot-9 wing will be a senior next season.
Holy Child has had a tough time holding its basketball coaches. Next year’s coach will be Holy Child’s seventh in nine years. Mertz is the third to advance to a college job. He leaves the program in good shape. The Tigers return two All-ISL A guards, Rocelia Cooper and Kristen Woo, in addition to versatile 6-footer Allison Abt.
