# Merrimack Warriors men's basketball

The Merrimack Warriors men's basketball team represents Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They are currently led by 9th year head coach Joe Gallo and play their home games in Hammel Court and Lawler Arena at the Merrimack Athletics Complex.
The Warriors played their first season in 1949 at the D2 level. In 1984 they joined the Northeast 10 conference. They would stay there from 1984 to 2019 and win three conference championships and make 11 NCAA tournament appearances. They would also win 3 ECAC tournament titles during this period.
In their first year at the Division 1 level, the 2019–20 team went 14–4 in NEC play and won the regular season title, despite in the preseason being picked by the media to finish 11th out of 11 teams. Due to the NCAA's policy on reclassifying programs, the Warriors were not eligible to compete in the NCAA tournament or the NIT until the 2023–24 season. In 2024, the Warriors joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

## Season-by-season record

| Year | Coach | Overall | Overall | Conference | Conference | Conference champs | Postseason |
| | | W | L | W | L | | |
| 1949-50 | Paul Lanni | 7 | 2 | | | | |
| 1950-51 | Larry Cicero | 8 | 9 | | | | |
| 1951-52 | Larry Cicero | 8 | 11 | | | | |
| 1952-53 | Larry Cicero | 8 | 10 | | | | |
| 1953-54 | Irman Pierce | 4 | 15 | | | | |
| 1954-55 | Kevin Harrington | 8 | 15 | | | | |
| 1955-56 | Kevin Harrington | 9 | 15 | | | | |
| 1956-57 | Kevin Harrington | 8 | 18 | | | | |
| 1957-58 | Kevin Harrington | 4 | 16 | | | | |
| 1958-59 | William S. LaRochelle | 12 | 11 | | | | |
| 1959-60 | William S. LaRochelle | 11 | 11 | | | | |
| 1960-61 | William S. LaRochelle | 15 | 11 | | | | |
| 1961-62 | William S. LaRochelle | 12 | 9 | | | | |
| 1962-63 | William S. LaRochelle | 14 | 9 | | | | |
| 1963-64 | William S. LaRochelle | 13 | 7 | | | | |
| 1964-65 | William S. LaRochelle | 14 | 6 | | | | |
| 1965-66 | William S. LaRochelle | 7 | 15 | | | | |
| 1966-67 | William S. LaRochelle | 17 | 6 | | | | |
| 1967-68 | William S. LaRochelle | 14 | 11 | | | | |
| 1968-69 | William S. LaRochelle | 11 | 11 | | | | |
| 1969-70 | William S. LaRochelle | 12 | 10 | | | | |
| 1970-71 | Frank T. Monahan | 11 | 13 | | | | |
| 1971-72 | Frank T. Monahan | 16 | 8 | | | | |
| 1972-73 | Frank T. Monahan | 8 | 18 | | | | |
| 1973-74 | Frank T. Monahan | 9 | 17 | | | | |
| 1974-75 | Frank T. Monahan | 11 | 15 | | | | |
| 1975-76 | Frank T. Monahan | 21 | 8 | | | | |
| 1976-77 | Frank T. Monahan | 19 | 9 | | | | NCAA Sweet 16 (W Bridgeport 107-83) L Sacred Heart 110-104) |
| 1977-78 | Frank T. Monahan | 22 | 6 | | | | NCAA Sweet 16 (W Bryant 116-91) ( L Sacred Heart 84-83) |
| 1978-79 | Frank T. Monahan | 3 | 24 | | | | |
| 1979-80 | Frank T. Monahan | 9 | 18 | | | | |
| 1980-81 | Bert Hammel | 12 | 15 | 10 | 10 | | |
| 1981-82 | Bert Hammel | 17 | 10 | 13 | 5 | | |
| 1982-83 | Bert Hammel | 13 | 14 | 8 | 11 | | |
| 1983-84 | Bert Hammel | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | | |
| | | | | NE10 | | | |
| 1984-85 | Bert Hammel | 11 | 17 | 3 | 11 | | |
| 1985-86 | Bert Hammel | 19 | 9 | 9 | 5 | | |
| 1986-87 | Bert Hammel | 13 | 16 | 7 | 7 | | |
| 1987-88 | Bert Hammel | 9 | 19 | 4 | 14 | | |
| 1988-89 | Bert Hammel | 22 | 9 | 13 | 5 | | ECAC tournament champions (W New York tech 102-78) (W Long Island-C.W. Post 98-85) |
| 1989-90 | Bert Hammel | 15 | 15 | 11 | 7 | | |
| 1990-91 | Bert Hammel | 21 | 9 | 14 | 4 | | NCAA Round of 32 ( L Franklin Pierce 82-79) |
| 1991-92 | Bert Hammel | 18 | 14 | 9 | 9 | NE10 Tournament champions | NCAA Round of 32 (L Bridgeport 91-84) |
| 1992-93 | Bert Hammel | 11 | 16 | 7 | 11 | | |
| 1993-94 | Bert Hammel | 11 | 17 | 7 | 11 | | |
| 1994-95 | Bert Hammel | 14 | 13 | 9 | 9 | | |
| 1995-96 | Bert Hammel | 12 | 16 | 7 | 9 | | |
| 1996-97 | Bert Hammel | 11 | 15 | 6 | 12 | | |
| 1997-98 | Bert Hammel | 16 | 13 | 9 | 11 | | ECAC tournament champions (W U Albany 92-82) (W St Michaels 80-75) |
| 1998-99 | Bert Hammel | 22 | 7 | 12 | 6 | | ECAC tournament champions (W U Albany 76-62) (W NJIT 96-82) |
| 1999-00 | Bert Hammel | 22 | 9 | 13 | 5 | NE10 regular champions NE10 tournament champions | NCAA Round of 32 ( W Saint Rose 92-64) ( L Adelphi 90-64 |
| 2000-01 | Bert Hammel | 13 | 15 | 12 | 11 | | |
| 2001-02 | Bert Hammel | 6 | 20 | 5 | 17 | | |
| 2002-03 | Bert Hammel | 11 | 17 | 8 | 14 | | |
| 2003-04 | Bert Hammel | 17 | 12 | 11 | 11 | | |
| 2004-05 | Bert Hammel | 14 | 15 | 9 | 13 | | |
| 2005-06 | Bert Hammel | 15 | 14 | 11 | 10 | | |
| 2006-07 | Bert Hammel | 8 | 20 | 7 | 15 | | |
| 2007-08 | Bert Hammel | 17 | 12 | 11 | 11 | | NCAA round of 64 ( L Bentley 81-68) |
| 2008-09 | Bert Hammel | 21 | 9 | 16 | 6 | | NCAA round of 32 ( W Umass Lowell 86-84) ( L Bentley 79-76) |
| 2009-10 | Bert Hammel | 21 | 9 | 16 | 6 | | NCAA round of 32 (W Umass Lowell 81-62) (L Bentley 83-79) |
| 2010-11 | Bert Hammel | 13 | 14 | 9 | 13 | | |
| 2011-12 | Bert Hammel | 15 | 12 | 12 | 10 | | |
| 2012-13 | Bert Hammel | 12 | 15 | 9 | 13 | | |
| 2013-14 | Bert Hammel | 9 | 17 | 7 | 14 | | |
| 2014-15 | Bert Hammel | 16 | 12 | 10 | 11 | | |
| 2015-16 | Bert Hammel | 15 | 12 | 10 | 11 | | |
| 2016-17 | Joe Gallo | 19 | 12 | 12 | 9 | | NCAA round of 32 (W Le Moyne 72-68) ( L St. Thomas Aquinas 73-70) |
| 2017-18 | Joe Gallo | 20 | 12 | 14 | 7 | | NCAA round of 32 (W Bridgeport 85-70) (L Bloomfield 109-91) |
| 2018-19 | Joe Gallo | 22 | 10 | 14 | 7 | NE10 tournament champions | NCAA round of 64(L Dominican (NY) 64-50) |
| | | | | NEC | NEC | | |
| 2019-20 | Joe Gallo | 20 | 11 | 14 | 4 | NEC regular season champions | Could not compete due to NCAA transitional period |
| 2020-21 | Joe Gallo | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | Could not compete due to NCAA transitional period |
| 2021-22 | Joe Gallo | 14 | 16 | 10 | 8 | | The Basketball Classic ( UMBC game cancelled) |
| 2022-23 | Joe Gallo | 18 | 16 | 12 | 4 | NEC regular season and Tournament Champions | Could not compete due to NCAA transitional period |
| 2023-24 | Joe Gallo | 21 | 12 | 13 | 3 | NEC regular season champions | |
| | | | | MAAC | | | |
| 2024-25 | Joe Gallo | 18 | 15 | 14 | 6 | | |
| TOTALS | | 1015 | 954 | 442 | 413 | | |
Source

## Postseason
### NCAA Division II tournament results

The Warriors appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament eleven times.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2008 | Round of 64 | Bentley | L 68–81 |
| 2009 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | UMass Lowell Bentley | W 86–84 L 76–79 |
| 2010 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | UMass Lowell Bentley | W 81–62 L 79–83 |
| 2017 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | Le Moyne St. Thomas Aquinas | W 72–68 L 70–73 |
| 2018 | Round of 64 Round of 32 | Bridgeport Bloomfield | W 85–70 L 91–109 |
| 2019 | First Round | Dominican (NY) | L 50–64 |

### ECAC Metro tournament results

The warriors appeared in 3 ECAC Metro tournaments and won all 3
| Year | Round | Opponet | Result |
| 1989 | Semi Final Final | New York Tech Long Island C.W post | W 102-78 W 99-85 |
| 1998 | Semi Final Final | U Albany St Michael’s | W 92-82 W 80-75 |
| 1999 | Semi Final Final | U Albany NJIT | W 76-62 W 96-82 |

## Head coaches

| Coach | Tenure | Record | Conf. Titles | Regular season titles | NCAA Apps. | Nat. Champ |
| Joe Gallo | 2016-Pres | 161-113 | 2 | 3 | 3^ | 0 |
| Bert Hammel | 1980-2016 | 526-491 | 2^ | 1 | 6^ | 0 |
| Frank T. Monahan | 1970-80 | 128-134 | 0 | 0 | 2^ | 0 |
| William S. LaRochelle | 1958-70 | 153-116 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Harrington | 1954-58 | 28-53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Irman Pierce | 1953-54 | 4-15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Cicero | 1950-53 | 24-30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Lanni | 1949-50 | 7-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source

## Player & Coaches Awards
### MAAC Defensive players of the year

* Bryan Etumnu (2025)

### NEC players of the year

* Jordan Minor (2023)
* Jordan Derkack (2024)

### NEC Defensive players of the year

* Juvaris Hayes (2020)
* Jordan Minor (2023)
* Jordan Derkack (2024)
NEC Rookie of the year
* Javon Bennett (2023)
* Adam “Budd” Clark (2024)

### NEC Most improved player

* Bryan Etumnu (2024)

### NEC Coach of the year

* Joe Gallo (2020)

### Lefty Driesell Award

* Juvaris Hayes (2020)

### NE10 Player of the year

* Paul Neal (1991)

### NE10 Defensive player of the year

* Reggie Carter (2000)
* Kenny Jones (2007)
* Juvaris Hayes (2019)

### NE10 Rookie player of the year

* Steve Scott (1987)
* Darren Duncan (2007)
* Darin Mency (2008)
* Juvaris Hayes (2017

### NE10 Coach of the year

* Bert Hammel (1991)

### NCAA D2 scoring leader

* Ed Murphy (1977 season)

### All-Americans

* Roger Damphousse —1961, 1962
* Ed Murphy — 1976, 1977, 1978
* Dana Skinner —1978
* Joe Dickson — 1982, 1983, 1984
* Paul Neal — 1983
* John McVeigh — 1997
* Darren Duncan — 2009, 2010
* Dee Mency — 2011
* Wayne Mack — 2012
* Juvaris Hayes — 2018, 2019, 2020

### Merrimack Athletics hall of fame

The following is a list of people associated with the Merrimack men's baskeyball program who were elected into the Merrimack Athletic Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses)
* Roger Damphousse (1984)
* Ed Murphy (1984)
* W. Stephen McMahon (1985)
* Dana Skinner (1985)
* John Martin (1986)
* Ro Walsh (1986)
* Gerry Stopyra (1989)
* Peter Dufour (1989)
* Bob Lemay (1991)
* Joseph P. Daley (1991)
* Joe Dickson (1991)
* Larry Roberson (1993)
* Paul Neal (2004)
* Darren Duncan (2017)
* Gary Duda (2022)

## Home Courts

Since the program’s inception in 1949. The Warriors have played their home games at Hammel Court located in the Merrimack athletic complex. The gym is named after former head coach Bert Hammel. In 2021 the warriors announced that Lawler arena (the hockey rink) would host its first ever basketball game. Ever since the 2021-22 season the warriors have split their home games between Hammel court and Lawler Arena.

## Warriors in professional basketball

NBA/G League
* Ed Murphy (drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1978, 3x French League Foreign MVP, inducted into the French basketball hall of fame in 2021)
* Steve McMahon (drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in 1972)
* Dana Skinner (drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978)
* Joe Dixon (drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1984)
* Jordan Minor (signed by the Long Island nets in 2024)
International Leagues
* Jacob O’Connell (signed with Coto Cordoba CB in 2025)
* Ziggy Reid (signed with Oberwart Gunners in 2024)
* Juvaris Hayes (signed with the Tigers Tübingen in 2020, he also played for Itzehoe Eagles and BC TSU Tbilisi)
* Gelvis Solano (currently plays for Dewa United Banten, former member of the Dominican Republic national baseball team)
* Darren Duncan (played 12 season in the National Basketball League of Canada)