MIAMI (June 4, 2021) – FIU baseball Head Coach Mervyl Melendez announced on Friday that former Major League All-Star and two-time World Series champion Jeff Conine has been named the Panthers' associate head coach. As part of Conine responsibilities, he will be oversee hitting and player development.
 
Conine comes to FIU after spending 17 seasons in the Majors, most notably with the then Florida Marlins, helping the club to win the 1997 and 2003 World Series titles.
 
"Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge of what it takes to be a champion. He's a two-time World Series champion who believes in simplicity and performance," Melendez said. "Our hitters will gain a vast knowledge of what it takes to compete day in and day out. He's a great addition to our staff."
 
Most recently, Conine was a special assistant to the Marlins' President from 2008-2017. While serving as a special assistant, Conine was a part of the Marlins Spring Training staff working with outfielders, first basemen and hitters. Conine was also a Guest Instructor with the Baltimore Orioles during the team's 2020 Spring Training.
 
"I'm incredibly excited to be able to work with the talented student-athletes at FIU. Being a South Floridian, it's a blessing to have the chance to work at a great program and University in my own backyard," Conine said. "I'm very appreciative for the opportunity, and look forward to our bright future at FIU."
 
A two-time All-Star, Conine concluded his career in 2008 with 1,982 hits, 214 home runs, 1,071 runs batted in and 870 runs scored in his 17-year career with six different clubs. 
 
As a Marlin, Conine batted .290 with 120 home runs and 553 RBIs throughout eight seasons. Conine currently ranks Top-10 in most offensive categories in Marlins history, including the second-most games played (1,014), third-most hits (1,005), third-most RBIs (1,579), fourth-most total bases (1,579) and fifth-most plate appearances (3,914).
 
Known as "Mr. Marlin," Conine went four for four in the first-ever Marlins game played in 1993 before being selected to the Mid-Summer Classic in 1994 and 1995. 
 
In his only career All-Star game at-bat, Conine hit a go-ahead pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning of the 1995 All-Star Game to receive MVP honors. 
 
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