Highland Community College is pleased to announce Jean Melo Fernandez as the new head softball coach beginning with the 2024 season.

As a member of the coaching staff for the last two seasons, Fernandez helped the Scotties set a school record with 22 straight victories in a single season obtaining the second seed in the Region VI tournament. From 2021-2023, the Puerto Rico native helped lead the Scotties to two consecutive winning seasons. Before coming to Highland, he graduated from Monroe College with a bachelor's in business administration. Then, he earned his master's in business management at Monroe College, as well.

Before coming to HCC, he was an assistant softball coach at Bethany College and many travel softball organizations. As the new head coach at Highland, Fernandez wants to get things moving right away so the team can advance, compete at the highest level, and give student-athletes the chance to play the sport they love while getting an education.

Coach Jean Melo Fernandez added, "Three years ago I started on this path that I have been preparing for. Never did I think that the opportunity to become a head coach was going to come up this quickly. I am extremely thankful to Highland Community College and my mentor, Coach Gregory Cary, for this opportunity. To say I am excited is an understatement. I am excited about the future of this program. We have put together, alongside Highland Community College, a platform for young females to succeed not just in softball but in the classroom and in life."
 
The Scotties' 2024 softball season kicks off at the beginning of February. Be sure to tune into the Scottie Sports Network for all of the live-action.