GREG BERKEMEIER
Head Coach
Greg Berkemeier completed his ninth season as the head baseball coach at Florida Tech in 2016 after serving as an assistant from 2002-07.
Like his first eight seasons at the helm, Berkemeier led the Panthers to yet another winning record, finishing 29-21 in 2016. His club ranked atop the Sunshine State Conference in both stolen bases (116) and fielding percentage (.971), while also rounding out the year among the Top-20 in all of NCAA Division II in four pitching categories.
One year earlier, in 2015, he guided the Panthers to a school-record 17-0 start. Overall, his club posted a 38-13 record and topped the SSC in batting, earned run average and fielding percentage. Florida Tech advanced to the South Region Championship after knocking off No. 4 West Alabama and 15th-ranked Lynn in consecutive contests before ultimately finishing No. 10 in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's final poll.
Berkemeier has coached four All-Americans and numerous All-South Region and All-Sunshine State Conference team members, including 2015 SSC Pitcher of the Year Scotty Ward. Two players from his first recruiting class were drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. Outfielder Jon Baksh was a 7th-round pick in 2006 and shortstop Steve Condotta was a 12th-round selection in 2007. His latest draft pick in 2015, Austin Allen, became the program's highest selection after being taken by the San Diego Padres in the fourth round (No. 117).
Berkemeier has also been involved with facility improvement at Florida Tech, including a new hitting facility, dugout expansion and the addition of lights at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field.
MATT MERCURIO
Assistant Coach
Matt Mercurio joined the Florida Tech coaching staff as an assistant in 2007 and is set to enter his 10th year in 2017. His primary responsibilities include: recruiting, strength and conditioning, and working with the hitters, baserunners and infield position players.
The program has seen a rise in a number of categories under his guidance alongside head coach Greg Berkemeier. In 2016 alone, Florida Tech topped the Sunshine State Conference in stolen bases (116), while pacing the league in fielding percentage for the second consecutive season (.971).
In addition to fielding percentage, the Panthers also led the SSC in batting average (.336) and on-base percentage (.419) one year earlier in 2015. Furthermore, the Panthers have drastically improved their stolen base totals with Mercurio acting as third base coach, leading the SSC on five separate occasions.
In his playing days prior to joining Florida Tech, Mercurio was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 38th round of the 2001 MLB Draft out of Avon Park High School. However, he decided to commit to Florida Southern where he was a part of four NCAA South Regional appearances and even won the 2005 NCAA Division II National Championship. Mercurio still holds numerous records at FSC, most notably hits. In 2004, he was a 19th round draft pick to the Baltimore Orioles, but decided to forego a pro career to finish school and round out his career with the Mocassins. Upon graduation, Mercurio was drafted in the 16th round by the Boston Red Sox, and went on to play within the organization for three years.
