Dec. 5, 2008
Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -
Bethune-Cookman University Baseball Coach Mervyl Melendez announced the hiring of Jason Arnold as the new assistant coach/pitching coach for the Wildcats. Arnold replaces Joel Sanchez, an eight-year assistant coach at B-CU, who took a job with the Washington Nationals. Sanchez will be a Minor League pitching coach with the Washington MLB franchise.
Arnold, a Melbourne, Florida native played his college baseball at the University of Central Florida (1998-2001) and is a 2006 UCF graduate coming back to the university to earn his degree after playing professional baseball. He was a two-time All-American (1998 and 2001) and the only player to be a four-time All-Conference baseball selection (Atlantic Sun) while at UCF.
Arnold was drafted in the 2nd round in the 2001 MLB amateur draft and signed with the New York Yankees. He was later traded to the Oakland Athletics and to the Toronto Blue Jays, his six-year MLB career as a RHP included duties as both a starter and a reliever. His career minor league record was 29-26, with a 3.33 ERA pitching 530 innings, allowing 444 hits, striking out 465 and walking 179. Two seasons, he was on the Major League 40-man roster.
Since retiring from professional baseball in 2006 and graduating from UCF, he has been a high school English teacher and head baseball coach at Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla., compiling a 19-8 season record in 2008. Arnold has also been the founder and head coach of the elite summer showcase team, the Brevard Aces.
"The opportunity to coach at the division I level and still stay close to home - was an opportunity I couldn't refuse," said Arnold of his decision to join the Wildcats. "I know from playing against B-CU (at UCF) and I know the success and what Coach Melendez has in place with the winning tradition - it made the decision to come here very easy."
Arnold, a hard-throwing, intense competitor as a pitcher, will bring those traits to B-CU baseball. "I threw hard and was never afraid to challenge a hitter," said Arnold. "I'm intense, fiery, emotional, and I feel I am out there with the guys. I'll bring a sense of relationships and communication with the players. I'm excited about the pitching talent that is here. And I think they (the players) are excited that I am here. The goals for this pitching staff and this team are as high as they have ever been and should be."
Coach Melendez, now in his 10th season as head coach at B-CU (276-247 overall record, with eight MEAC Championships and eight NCAA regional appearances), is very pleased with his new pitching coach.
"Jason brings a different dimension to our pitching staff and he is a great addition for us," said Coach Melendez. "I think that we got the right fit for our program. I coached against Jason and saw him pitch at UCF - he's a great competitor. That is what attracted me to him as a coach and after interviewing and talking with him - I had a good feeling about Jason. His pitching philosophies and his dealing with players and communication skills are what we are looking for."
Jason and his wife Jennifer are the parents of a 13 month old daughter, Sydney. The new B-CU assistant coach joined the baseball program, effective December 1, 2008.
MORE WILDCAT BASEBALL NEWS........
Wildcats Open 2009 Season Competing In The 2nd Annual MLB Urban Invitational Tournament in California (Feb. 20-22) - Home Opener February 24 vs. Stetson
The Wildcats, 36-22 last season, earned an NCAA bid to the Coral Gables Regional and are the three-time defending MEAC baseball champions. B-CU opens the 2009 season competing for the second year in a row in the MLB sponsored Urban Invitational Tournament in Los Angeles (Feb. 20-22).
Competing with the Wildcats this year will be Tony Gwynn's San Diego State University team, University of San Diego and fellow HBCU School - Southern University of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For information on the MLB Urban Invitational - call Silvia Alvarez or Dan Queen with Major League Baseball (212) 931-9878. ESPN TV will once again be involved with the tournament and a complete schedule of games and tournament events will be released -TBA.
