Bethune–Cookman Wildcats baseball

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Bethune–Cookman Wildcats
2024 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats baseball team
Founded1969
UniversityBethune–Cookman University
Head coachJonathan Hernandez (6th season)
ConferenceSWAC
East Division
LocationDaytona Beach, Florida
Home stadiumJackie Robinson Ballpark
(Capacity: 4,200)
NicknameWildcats
ColorsMaroon and gold[1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Conference tournament champions
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Regular season conference champions
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

The Bethune–Cookman Wildcats baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Bethune–Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The team plays its home games at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida. Jonathan Hernandez is the team's head coach starting in the 2019 season.

History[edit]

Mervyl Melendez was named the head coach at Bethune-Cookman, leading his alma mater to eleven Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in his twelve seasons. As coach at Bethune-Cookman, Melendez led the team two back-to-back undefeated conference seasons in 2010 and 2011. His teams also won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference baseball tournament every year from 2000 through 2011, with the exception of 2005. He won 379 games as coach of the Wildcats, and in 2009 became the second-youngest coach in NCAA history to win 300 games.[2][3] Prior to the start of the 2012 season, Jason Beverlin was named the head coach at Bethune-Cookman.[4] On August 14, 2018, Jonathan Hernandez was named the head coach of the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats baseball program.[5] Following a 17–38 season in 2019, Hernandez was able to land the 59th ranked recruiting class.[6]

Head coaches[edit]

Season Coach Years Record Pct.
1969–1979 John Knight 11 126–119–3 .514
1980–1984 Don Dungee 5 102–128–1 .444
1985, 1987, 1989–1990 Johnny Randolph 4 31–93 .250
1986 Joe Golinski 1 8–31 .205
1988 Don Williams 1 7–24 .226
1991–1992 Gary France 2 14–73–1 .165
1993–1996 Brian Rhees 4 89–96–1 .481
1997–1999 Richard Skeel 3 75–93 .446
2000–2012 Mervyl Melendez 13 379–320 .542
2013–2017 Jason Beverlin 6 179–177 .503
2018 Barrett Shaft 1 24–34 .414
2019–present Jonathan Hernandez 4 23–50 .315
Totals 12 coaches 55 seasons 1,057–1,238–6 .461

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bethune-Cookman Digital Media Guide. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  2. ^ "Staff Directory – Head Baseball Coach". Alabama State University. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  3. ^ "Mervyl Melendez Leaves Bethune-Cookman To Become Head Baseball Coach At Alabama State". tspnsports.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  4. ^ Butler, Andreas (May 10, 2012). "B-CU Hires Former MLB Player as Head Baseball Coach". Florida Courier. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  5. ^ "Jonathan Hernandez Named @BCUDiamondCats Head Coach". www.bcuathletics.com. Bethune–Cookman University. August 14, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  6. ^ Zach Dean (July 23, 2019). "B-CU baseball: Coach Jonathan Hernandez puts finishing touches on 59th ranked class". www.news-journalonline.com. The Daytona Beach News Journal. Retrieved April 4, 2020.

External links[edit]