University of North Carolina Athletics
Behind the Scenes: Robert Mercer
October 22, 2002 | General
In the second "Behind the Scenes" interview, TarHeelBlue.com spoke with the Director of Academic Support for Student-Athletes, Robert Mercer.
Name
Robert Mercer
Birthday / Hometown
December 26 / Clinton, N.C.
Education
1989 Winthrop graduate
1991, Masters in Industrial Education, Clemson
TarHeelBlue
What is your job here at the University?
Robert Mercer
I oversee all academic support for student-athletes for all of our teams here at Carolina. Our role is to provide counseling support, tutorial support and learning support. We provide the support when student-athletes are unable to receive this support from other areas on campus due to practice and competition conflicts.
We have tutoring sessions every night, Sundays through Thursdays from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. and during the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
THB
Is academic support required for all student-athletes?
RM
Typically, it is required for all freshmen. After that, it depends on how the student is doing in classes. We have a combination of tutorial time and quiet study.
THB
How has your job changed in light of your recent promotion to Director of Academic Support for Student-Athletes?
Probably the biggest difference now is that I will have a greater visibility and influence with all teams as where in the past I worked with six or seven teams. Now, I will be working with and representing all of our student-athletes.
In addition, I will be more visible on campus. Our center has dual reporting lines with both athletics and to Arts and Sciences Academic Services. I also report to the dean of Academic Services so I will spend more time on the main campus.
THB
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
RM
I like the opportunity to work with a group of students who have extraordinary skills in certain areas that the rest of us do not have. That is why they are scholarship athletes because they have the extraordinary ability to hit a baseball better than ordinary people or throw a pitch 90 miles an hour or jump so high, run so fast and do all these things.
I enjoy student development. That is number one and what always kept me on campus dealing with academics. To be able to apply student development to this group of the student population is a great experience.
THB
Who are some famous athletes you have worked with in the past?
RM
Well, not always working directly but I was here when Marion Jones was here. I knew Cindy Werley who is now an assistant field hockey coach at Duke and all of the football and basketball players who have played here since I started working here in 1996.
THB
What has been your most memorable Carolina memory?
RM
In 1993 when we won the National Championship in men's basketball was my most memorable experience. I was actually working in Granville Towers, which is right on Franklin Street and it was like a giant lightning rod where everyone in town went to celebrate it seemed like. Everyone went to Granville and Franklin Street to party following the game.
It was very quiet during the game for the most part. Granville was packed with people watching the game in their rooms and in the student lounges and right when the game was over, the place just erupted. Everyone ran out of Granville trying to get to Franklin Street. So, all the workers at Granville were standing at the backside where people ran out of Granville East and we were handing out toilet paper as they ran out because we knew they were going to toilet paper the building so we were just having a good time.
The neatest part of the night is when we went up to the roof of Granville and were able to watch the whole celebration on Franklin Street. We watched all of the bonfires and celebrations from the top of the building and it was cool.
THB
What sports did you play growing up?
RM
I played football in junior high. I was a defensive back in JV football ... or at least that is where they told me I played. I mostly saw action on special team.
THB
Who is your favorite team to watch at Carolina?
RM
I enjoy all of them. I go to a lot of field hockey games. I really enjoy field hockey.
It is interesting when you are born in North Carolina and raised in South Carolina, there were a number of sports we did not have and field hockey was one of them. One thing that is fun about working at Carolina is getting the opportunity to work with and see all of the different sports.
My wife and I, along with my two-year old son Nicholas, go to football games, field hockey games and a lot of baseball games. When you have a two-year old it is in your best interest to attend outdoor sporting events.
THB
How was it growing up having a birthday the day after Christmas?
RM
My parents always tried to celebrate my birthday a little bit early. They would typically celebrate it maybe two weeks out so it would not get lost in the commotion of the holidays. It is kind of nice and easy for people to remember.
THB
What is a little known fact about Robert Mercer?
RM
For the past year, I have been learning how to play ice hockey. Several people from the office have gotten together for the past year and played ice hockey together.
