Green, Merrill

May 9, 2022

MERRILL GREEN was a star running back and punt returner at the University of Oklahoma in the early 1950s under coach Bud Wilkinson. He coached in college at Texas Tech and Arkansas before becoming the head coach at Abilene Cooper in 1965. He led the Cougars to the state title game in 1967. Green was the coach of four Big Country Hall of Famers – Jack Mildren, Randy Allen, Jon Harrison and Jon Rhiddlehoover. Following the 1971 season, he moved to Bryan, where the football stadium is now named for him. Green compiled a 198-81 record in 27 seasons at Cooper and Bryan and was named one of the state’s top 100 high school football coaches on the 100th anniversary of the UIL.