Vassar College Head Baseball Coach
Tad Skelley has announced the hiring of
Evan Mello as the new assistant coach and facilities assistant, where he will be in charge of the pitchers, in July 2026.
Mello comes to Vassar following his time with the Dansville Gliders where he served as the pitching coach in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL), a collegiate summer league that is sanctioned by Major League Baseball.
"We are excited to welcome Evan to the Vassar Baseball family", said Skelley. "Throughout the hiring process, he consistently demonstrated a passion for developing student-athletes, a strong understanding of pitching development, and an authentic ability to build meaningful relationships. Evan's experiences as both a standout player at Wheaton College and a pitching coach in the New York Collegiate Baseball League have prepared him well for this opportunity. Our goal is to provide our student-athletes with one of the best developmental experiences in Division III baseball, and Evan is an important addition toward that mission."
Mello finished an impressive playing career with the Wheaton (MA) Lyons in 2026 as he threw 57.1 innings out of the bullpen and pitched to an impressive 3.92 earned run average. He also held hitters to a .235 batting average against over his four-year career and struck out 72 hitters.
"Evan is a tireless worker and student of the game", said Wheaton Head Coach Dan Tischler. "His passion for learning and helping others makes him a natural fit for coaching. As a senior, Evan took on a leadership role and helped many younger guys in their development. His willingness to listen, process information, and meet guys where they are are elements of coaching that can't be taught. I am excited to see Evan grow as a coach and help Vassar's program and pitching development."
Mello has also spent time with Killer B's Fitness, Training and Entertainment Baseball where he has served as a baseball development coach and is responsible for mentoring youth athletes by improving fundamentals, performance, and sportsmanship in a structured and supportive environment.
Skelley also said, "Evan brings energy, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to helping pitchers maximize their potential. Just as importantly, he values the relationships that are essential to coaching at Vassar. He is an outstanding fit for the culture we are building, and I have no doubt he will make an immediate impact on our pitchers and our program. We're thrilled to welcome him to our staff."
During his time as a student at Wheaton, he also supported the Wheaton Game Management staff by assisting with various different sports on campus, including basketball scorekeeping, statistics recording and rule compliance.
Mello was named a two-time All-Star in the NYCBL and the Future Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) while also earning the honor of being named the Future Collegiate Baseball League Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2025.
Mello earned his bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and History from Wheaton (MA) in 2026.
