Jeff Merrill, who came to Lees-McRae College in 2014, was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in 2018. He has maintained his role as the Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator since 2014 and recently became an adjunct professor in the Sports Management program in 2019.

As assistant athletic director, Merrill is responsible for being a game administration at home competitions, managing the media room schedule, completing the annual NCAA reports and monitoring the academic success of Lees-McRae College's 300+ student-athletes. As director of compliance, Merrill is tasked with handling all aspects of NCAA compliance for the institution, which includes conducting weekly meetings with the coaching staff and student-athletes regarding NCAA legislation, developing education materials regarding NCAA Bylaws, certifying transfer, new student and continuing eligibility for 19 varsity sports, generating all National Letters of Intents and Athletic Aid Agreements, monitoring recruiting processes for all sports and working with the NCAA Eligibility Center to certify international student-athletes. 

Merrill also serves as the college's Title IX Coordinator by developing Title IX educational materials for Lees-McRae, refining the policies to meet federal regulations and chairing Title IX hearings and appeals, while also serving as a member of the institution's judicial committee. 

A member of the NACDA, and both the Early Intervention Team for Student Academic Success and the Staff Association Bylaw Committee at Lees-McRae College, Merrill has participated in numerous workshops including the NCAA Leadership Development Program and the BB&T Leadership Development Program. He was also presented with the Bridge Builder Award by Lees-McRae College in 2015-16.

Merrill is a 2012 cum laude graduate of Belmont Abbey College with a bachelor's in Sports Management and was a member of the college's President's List. He went on to complete his master's degree in College Athletic Administration from Coker College in 2017. 

Merrill and his girlfriend Lacey currently reside in Banner Elk, NC with their three-year-old pitbull named Mabel.