Volunteer assistant coach Derek Cartaya enters his fourth season with the Panthers.
The Pembroke Pines, Florida, native's responsibilities will include coaching infielders, assisting with hitters and is the program's Camp Coordinator.
"Derek bleeds blue and gold," said head coach Rich Witten. "He is the heart and soul of this program and I am thrilled the he will remain on the staff."
Cartaya wrapped his collegiate playing career this past season with a .296 career batting average over 199 games, which is 14th most in program history, for FIU from 2017-21.
"Cartaya is a rising star in the coaching profession," added Witten. "He brings energy, passion and knowledge t our program every single day."
Playing mostly middle infielder, the versatile Cartaya rewrote the Panther baseball record book finishing his career with 195 hits, which ranks 18th all-time.
"I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to continue to coach at my alma mater," said Cartaya. "FIU holds a special place in my heart and I look forward to continuing to develop the players withing our program."
A heart and soul leader for FIU, Cartaya also swiped 35 bags in during his five year tenure on Eighth street. He batted .269 with two home runs and 16 runs batted during his fifth-year senior season of 2021.
"I'm excited to be apart of the coaching staff moving forward and continuing developing my own coaching ability," added Cartaya. "The future of FIU baseball is promising an I am thrilled to be apart of it."
