He was named interim head coach on August 6, 2020. He previously served as associate head coach.

The 2020 season showed favor to the Bears as Mercer went 6-1 through seven games, which was the best start in program history. Mercer's only loss came to No. 8 North Carolina in the second game of the season. The Bears won five consecutive contests before the remainder of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but despite the shortened season, the Bears set several milestones. Mercer was two wins away from tying the program record for victories (8) and individually, Sean Goldsmith led the nation in goals per game (4.86) and ranked fourth nationally while leading the SoCon in assists per game (6.00).

In 2019, Mercer went 1-12 overall with the team's lone victory coming on March 23 at VMI. The Bears topped the Keydets, 18-6. The record was misleading as Mercer suffered eight defeats by a mere four goals or less. Ashton Wood ended his first collegiate campaign ranked seventh nationally in face-off winning percentage (.644) and 16th in ground balls per game (7.69). Mercer was also featured in the top-25 in the team statistical categories three times, finishing the season 14th in face-off winning percentage (.595), 20th in saves per game (13.00) and 25th in ground balls per game (32.77).

Mercer was 4-10 in Surman's third season with the team (2018) with their best play coming on the road as the Bears earned three of its four victories away from Macon, Ga. Mercer won two Southern Conference contests as Matt Hughes led a prolific goal scoring offense with a .564 shot percentage as a freshman, the second best mark in the country. Pascal Coombs was a defensive force as a junior, causing 2.21 turnovers per contest to rank him sixth among all Division I players.

In Surman's second season (2017), the Bears were 5-8 with a pair of wins in Southern Conference play. Mercer picked up two victories inside the friendly confines of Five Star Stadium and went 3-3 (.500) away from its home field. Offensively, the Bears found themselves ranked ninth in caused turnovers per game (8.85) and 11th in man-up offense (0.441).

The Bears complied a 5-8 record in 2016 with four wins coming at home. Mercer was 4-2 (.666) inside Five Star Stadium and won its lone road contest at Jacksonville, 12-5.