FIU baseball coach Mervyl Melendez will be inducted into the Bethune-Cookman Athletics Hall of Fame as it was announced by the school on Wednesday.

Melendez, who was both a baseball player and coach for the Wildcats, will be enshrined as a coach along with 12 other members. The 2016 B-CU Athletic Hall of Fame Class will be honored during festivities on campus and in the community on Hall of Fame Weekend taking place September 16-17.

"It's a great honor to be recognized by the institution who gave me a chance to play college baseball and also provided me with the opportunity to coach this great game," Melendez said. "I owe Brian Rhees and Lynn Thompson for believing in me and having the vision of me being a college baseball coach. B-CU is a great university and I will forever be a part of the Wildcat family."

As a player, Melendez was a two-year letterwinner (1996-1997), and finished his playing career as the all-time leader in doubles (30) and batting average (.342). He also starred as a relief pitcher for the Wildcats, in addition to his regular role at third base. Melendez also had a clutch double which drove in the winning run in the Wildcats first NCAA postseason baseball victory at Georgia Southern.

After his playing career ended in 1998, he was named an assistant coach at B-CU under Richard Skeel, and two years later became the head coach in 2000. During the next 11 seasons, he was named MEAC Coach of the Year eight times, led the Wildcats to 11 MEAC Tournament Championships and NCAA regional championship appearances, three undefeated seasons in league play and 379 career wins.

In 2012, he was named head baseball coach at Alabama State University, and in 2016 led the Hornets to an undefeated season in conference play and the SWAC championship and NCAA regional championship berth. After last season, Melendez accepted the head baseball coaching position at FIU in June.