Coaches

Tony Mele

Tony Mele enters his fourth year as Head Coach of Belmont Abbey Softball, having been elevated from assistant coach on Sept. 10, 2019.


During his four years with the program, the Crusaders have seen increased growth, including a record-setting 32 wins in 2022. The team had the highest winning percentage in program history (.681) and got off the the best start ever, winning the first 11 games. He helped mentor Abby Craver to All-Conference Carolinas and Freshman of the Year honors, while Emily Morgan was also selected to the league team.


A year earlier, Abbey Softball posted a 20-16 overall record, also finishing tied for second. During the campaign, the Crusaders won a school-record 13 straight games and had the league Player of the Year in Peyton Whitley. Additionally, five players were named all-conference, including three first-teams. His first season at the helm, 2020, was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic.


"As we endeavored to identify the next head coach of our Softball program, it became apparent that our primary objective was to provide our students, including our future prospects, with

consistency and continuity in leadership," Miss said at his hiring. "Concurrent to, and perhaps fueling, this growing awareness among those conducting our search, Tony Mele distinguished himself as a highly competent leader while serving as head coach in an interim capacity. Coach Mele, who benefits tremendously from having honed his skills while serving in a leadership capacity in multiple corporate organizations as well as in establishing and running his own businesses and travel softball programs, emerged as uniquely prepared and ideally suited to mentor, teach, and coach our students, to form and develop them body, mind, and soul, and to enable them to realize their full potential so as to become a blessing

to themselves and others."


Mele came to Belmont Abbey as an assistant coach in the Fall of 2019 with 10 years of softball coaching experience at all levels and age groups. As a Team NC travel coach, he recruited and coached numerous players who are now committed to college play. Trained through the NFCA, Mele is well respected among players and coaches. His background prior to softball includes various leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies, where he gained extensive knowledge in planning, team building and budgeting. He also started his own real estate and software companies.


Mele received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut in 1989 and his M.B.A from Wake Forest University in 1995. He and his wife, Helene, reside in Denver,

N.C., with their two children, Hallie and Anthony.