Peter Holland Jr. // Asst. Sports Director
After receiving a contract extension for two more years as FIU’s athletic director, Pete Garcia, wants to use his final years to focus on his $14 million renovation plan for the Athletics Department.
One of his projects involves upgrading the FIU Baseball Stadium. Some of the improvements include a luxurious locker room and lounge for the baseball players to rest and hang out, indoor batting cage and bullpen area, private suite and open-air canopy to provide shade for the stadium, according to FIUSports.com.
“Baseball has a rich tradition here at FIU and we need to make an investment in its future,” Garcia said to FIUSports.com
His projects also include upgrading facilities in both the football and soccer stadiums, convocation center and completing both the softball and golf complexes.
Under Garcia, the department has had a combined 16 conference titles, 20 postseason appearances and over 24 All-American recognitions from the student-athletes in his 10-year tenure as athletic director.
Despite little success after their transition from the Sun Belt Conference to the Conference USA, student-athletes’ participation in the classroom carries weight with their team activities. In spring 2016, the department reported their highest cumulative GPA in school history, 3.1, and increased the federal graduation rate by 19 percent last season.
“We want our programs to continue to grow,” Garcia said to FIUSports.com. “In order to do that, we need to enhance the facilities and give our student-athletes the tools they need to be their very best.”
Garcia has not commented or given the exact date of his search for the football team’s head coach, which is also one of his tasks during his extension.
After the signing, University President Mark B. Rosenberg praised Garcia for all of his work as athletic director and looks forward to his plans for the next two years.
“Pete has led our athletic program during a pivotal decade in its development,” Rosenberg said in a statement. “I thank Pete for his leadership and the commitment he brought to the job.”
Head Coach Mervyl Melendez thinks that the renovation would be great for his players.
“What will definitely impact us the most is the player’s lounge and player’s locker room,” he said.
“That’s going to be one of the best lounges in the nation in my opinion. It will definitely be the best in Conference USA.”
The improved lounge and locker room, Melendez said, are going to be the players’ sanctuary. He is hopeful that the team will have indoor facilities within the next month or so, he said.
“It will be great for the guys getting extra work done,” Melendez said. “Everything else is for the fans. We’re going to have comfort seating and a new box [press box] behind home plate. So those are the things the fans are going to enjoy.”
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