Mervyl Melendez, who has led Bethune-Cookman to 11 NCAA playoff appearances in his 12 seasons as head coach, has been named head baseball coach, Alabama State Athletic Director Stacy Danley announced Friday. 

A press conference to formally introduce Melendez at Alabama State will be held Tuesday, June 21 at 1 p.m. at the Houston Markham Football Complex. 

“We are excited to bring someone of Mervyl's talent and accomplishment to the Alabama State family,” Danley said of the fourth baseball coach in ASU history. “His outstanding record of success as a player, assistant coach and head coach on and off the field speaks for itself and we believe Mervyl will have tremendous success in leading the Hornet baseball program.” 

Melendez, 37, has compiled an impressive list of victories and accomplishments in his head coaching career. Among them are:

• The Wildcats posting two streaks of at least five consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles (2000-04, 2006-11);
• His teams have made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances (2000-04, 2006-11), defeating Florida International in 2002 (W 7-4), with near-misses vs. Florida (L 6-8 in 2003; L 7-8 in 2009), Ole Miss (L 2-3 in 2006), Jacksonville (L 7-8 in 2009), and Florida State (L 5-6 in 2011);
• Bethune-Cookman has won 43 consecutive MEAC regular season games, including back-to-back undefeated league seasons in 2010 and 2011 (18-0 both seasons);
• Melendez was named MEAC Coach of the Year eight times (2000, '01, '04, '06, '07, '09, '10, '11);
• He became the second youngest coach (35 years, two months) in NCAA Division I history to win 300 games (2009);
• His team G.P.A. has been at least 2.9 in each of the past six seasons. 

“I am honored to have the opportunity to be the next baseball coach at Alabama State,” Melendez said. “I want to thank Dr. Harris, Dr. Knight and Mr. Danley for the opportunity to serve as a mentor for the many young men that I will coach. I'm looking forward to the challenge of getting Alabama State to a status around the nation where people will not only respect the program, but one that will contend for many championships. I am looking forward to getting on campus, getting to know everyone, and to start working with the young men.” 

Since 2002, Melendez' teams have posted 38 victories over teams from FBS conferences:

·         2002 – Florida Atlantic (twice), Iowa, Miami, Fla., Central Florida (twice), Florida International

·         2003 -  Florida International (three times), Central Florida (twice), Iowa

·         2004 – South Florida

·         2005 – Tennessee

·         2006 – Central Florida, Seton Hall, Boston College, Pittsburgh, and Penn State

·         2007 – Tennessee, Florida Atlantic (twice)

·         2008 – South Florida (twice), Penn State

·         2009 – Michigan State (twice), Florida International, Miami, Fla. (twice)

·         2010 – Troy, Ohio State, Florida International

·         2011 – Auburn, Michigan State, South Florida, Florida International  

“His teams have competed against and beaten the best programs in the nation,” Danley said. “We look forward to him elevating the Alabama State baseball program to new heights and prominence. This hire makes a bold statement to our  players, alumni, fans, and supporters that we want to be among the best in the nation in all sports.” 

Melendez brings a 379-320 record (.540) to Alabama State, including six straight winning seasons, and nine seasons of 30+ wins. 

Melendez had spent his entire collegiate career at Bethune Cookman, and was an integral part of 14 MEAC titles as a player, assistant coach and head coach. 

As a player at Bethune-Cookman, Melendez was selected to the first-ever Black College All-America Team during his senior season (1996). As a third baseman and relief pitcher, he finished his collegiate career as the all-time school leader in doubles (30) and batting average (.342). These accolades earned him all-conference and all-tournament honors in both 1995 and '96. 

It was Melendez' relief-pitching efforts against North Carolina A&T in the final game of the 1996 regular season that allowed the Wildcats to capture their second consecutive MEAC Southern Division crown. In the NCAA Regional Play-in game against Georgia Southern in 1996, Melendez hit a bases-loaded double to give B-CU their first win in a regional. 

He served as assistant coach from 1997-99, assisting the Wildcats with MEAC titles in '97 and '99.