This marks the ninth season for Joel Sanchez with the Bethune-Cookman University baseball program. Sanchez brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the program in areas of recruiting and teaching pitchers. Such is evident in the fact that numerous pitchers have been selected to the MLB (Major League Baseball) ranks in the draft since his arrival prior to the 2000 season.

"Sanchez has a wealth of knowledge that he shares with our pitching staff daily, and year-in, year-out," expresses B-CU head coach Mervyl Melendez. "His knowledge of collegiate pitching, and the way he works hard to teach and motivate them to be better is one of the reasons why we are successful on the mound each season. We are sending pitchers to the pro ranks, and he is a big reason for that."

Sanchez's main duties at Bethune-Cookman include serving as the pitching coach for the Wildcats. He works tirelessly in that regard to make the B-CU pitching staff one of the "class" of the conference each year. Sanchez also serves as the recruiting coordinator for the Wildcats.

Joel Sanchez not only knows baseball, but he has collegiate and professional experience to back it up. He played his college ball at New Mexico Junior College before finishing up his collegiate career at New Mexico State University as both a pitcher and shortstop for the Aggies. He graduated with a degree in Psychology in 1998 from NMSU.

After graduating from college, Sanchez played for two seasons in the Mexican Professional Baseball League in Juarez, Mexico. He saw action as both a starting pitcher and as a relief hurler from 1998-99.

But it may be Sanchez's hard-working attitude and the hunger to make the Bethune-Cookman pitching staff the best in the country, not just the conference or region, that proves why he is a mainstay on the staff with Melendez.

"I try to teach fundamentals and keep it simple for the guys," states Sanchez. "I want them to work on their mechanics as much as possible, and to be able to maximize their potential with each and every pitch, or type of pitch they throw. I've seen this program grow and move in the right direction, and I'm glad to be a part of it."

Joel Sanchez is a native of Jal, New Mexico, located in the southeastern corner of the state on the Texas border. He is a graduate of Jal High School, and was a four-year letterwinner for the Panthers.