Breaking News: FIU Baseball HC Mervyl Melendez Will Not Return Following Season’s End.

By: Jonathan Mayer / Assistant Sports Director

After six seasons with the Blue & Gold, FIU Baseball Head Coach Mervyl Melendez announced on Wednesday afternoon that he will not be returning following the conclusion of the 2022 season.

“During my six years at FIU, I devoted my heart and soul into our student-athletes and this program,” Melendez said in a press release to FIU Athletics. “I am proud of the upgrades that we have made and the resources we have been able to secure for this program.”

Melendez was named the head coach of FIU Baseball in June 2016 after previously spending five seasons with the Alabama State Hornets and 12 seasons with the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. In both stints, he compiled a total of 11 conference championship and 12 trips to the NCAA Regionals.

At FIU, Melendez had an overall record of 126-154, and sent 14 student-athletes to the MLB Draft including standout pitcher Logan Allen, who was the third-highest draft pick in FIU Baseball history.

“I want to thank Coach Melendez for leading the FIU Baseball program the past six years,” FIU Athletics Director Scott Carr added in the release. “Merv is a high-character, servant-leader who cares deeply about everyone, especially the young men that played for him.”

This season, the Panthers are 16-31 with an conference record of 8-19, which is tenth out of the 12 teams in the Conference-USA standings.

A national search for the program’s fifth head baseball coach will begin immediately.