2010 - 2011 Golf

Keller won the Shawnee State Invitational last week in a playoff after shooting a three-over par 147 at the Elk's Country Club in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Keller erased a three-stroke deficit in the final round with a second-round low score of even par, 76 over the 6,677 yard Elk's CC course.

Keller helped the Bears to a fourth place with a two-day total of 626 (3112-314). 

This is the first conference award of the season and career for Keller.

The 1959 Portsmouth High School graduate was captain and MVP of football, basketball, and baseball during his career as a Trojan.  As a senior, he earned All-Ohio status in football and basketball and accumulated a batting average over .600 in baseball. 

Merb continued his playing career at Ohio University.  As a freshman he was a three-sport athlete participating in football, basketball, and baseball.  As a sophomore, Merb was quarterback for the National Championship football team and hit .412 in baseball.  He continued his football and baseball careers during his junior and senior seasons and played in the 1963 Sun Bowl Game.  He graduated with a bachelor's from Ohio University in 1963 and in 1964 he obtained his master's degree a from OU.

From there, Merb was the Head Football Coach at Defiance College from 1967 to 1970.  During his tenure at Defiance he recorded a record of 30-6 capturing three conference championships with one undefeated season, and accumulating an 18 game winning streak which was the longest in the nation at the time.

In 1972 he returned to his alma mater, Portsmouth High School, as Head Football Coach for two seasons.   

In the spring of 1989, Merb began SSU's Golf Program and has been coach ever sine.  In 1997, the Bears won the Mid-Ohio Conference Championship.

Altogether Roger has been a college coach for 35 years as well as being a high school football official for 33 years.  He is also a member of the OHSAA Official's Hall of Fame. 

Roger resides in Proctorville, Ohio with his wife Connie. 

Spille, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio has earned this honor for the second consecutive year.  He is a Biology major and has accumulated a grade point average of 3.96. 

Robbins, a junior from Piketon, Ohio is a Business Administration major and has accumulated a grade point average of 3.6.

To be eligible to be NAIA Scholar Athlete, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have achieved junior academic status to qualify.

Bryan Spille                           Cody Robbins