Academic programs and athletics programs are often viewed as competing factors in the lives of students. What should come first? Students, parents, coaches and educators often have different opinions of how each combines to form a well-rounded individual.

William Merna ’70 believes the two can go hand-in-hand rather than compete. There are valuable lessons to be learned from both. And he should know. Merna taught in the Ogdensburg City School District for 37 years, retiring in July 2008, and has been coaching just as long. He was also a basketball player for four years while attending SUNY Potsdam as a history major. To recognize the impact he had – and still has – on his students and players, the Ogdensburg District recently named their gymnasium in honor of him.

“I’ve always seen coaching as just another class that I was assigned to teach,” Merna said. “A bonus is I had a class (gym) full of eager, motivated students who would be willing to do the extra things needed to give us a chance at success. Some, but not all, showed the same attitude in the classroom.

"I've always seen coaching as just another class that I was assigned to teach."

Getting them to see the similar traits needed in both places has been a challenge and very rewarding when it works.”

Merna sees the value in education extending beyond just the classroom or court. Each has a place to teach life lessons that can be carried into one’s future.

“From sports, I’ve learned attention to detail is all-important,” Merna said. “The satisfaction realized from giving your best effort makes the hard work and sacrifice worth it. It’s a great feeling knowing there are others you can rely on and knowing that they feel they can count on you.

“In the classroom, I’ve learned not to assume prior knowledge in your students,” he noted. “Repetition is essential to mastery; it’s essential to create a co-operative, trusting attitude to assist people in  reaching their potential. A 100 percent success rate is not attainable.

You can’t get discouraged and become negative when things don’t work out.”

Merna knows his four years at Potsdam and playing basketball under Dr. Lou LaGrand and Jerry Welsh and competing against top-notch players such as Buffalo State’s Randy Smith, who went on to a long NBA career and won an MVP award in the NBA All-Star game, have been influential in his life.

“Getting an education that would prepare me to teach and coach has been the foundation of my life, and I thank all those at SUNY Potsdam that helped me along the way,” he said.

Merna is part of SUNY Potsdam’s Sports Hall of Fame, as a 1987 inductee. He also was inducted into the New York State Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in March.