Football
- Title:
- Assistant Football Coach (Special Teams Coordinator)
- Phone:
- 662-325-3470
Eric Mele enters his fourth season at Mississippi State in 2023, including his second as special teams coordinator.
He was named MSU’s running backs coach on February 4, 2020, and served in that role for two seasons.
In his first season as special teams coordinator in 2022, Mele's units were among the nation's best, ranking No. 1 by PFF, No. 4 by Football Outsiders and No. 12 by ESPN.
Mele coached two of the nation's most explosive return men during the 2022 season in junior wide receiver Lideatrick Griffin and freshman wide receiver Zavion Thomas. Griffin led the country in yards per kick return (32.26) and kickoff returns for 30+ yards (11), while Thomas led the nation among freshmen in yards per punt return (13.47). Both Griffin and Thomas garnered All-America honors.
During the 2021 season under Mele's guidance, Jo'quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson were the SEC's top two reception leaders among running backs. Marks led the way with 83, while Johnson was next with 65. Marks (502) and Johnson (422) were also first and second respectively in the SEC in receiving yards among running backs.
In 2020, Marks tied for the national lead among freshmen with 60 total receptions, which ranked fourth overall in the SEC. MSU's single-season records for receptions by both freshmen and running backs. He also finished second in the SEC among true freshmen and ranked third among freshmen nationally in yards after catch (340).
Mele spent the previous nine seasons at Washington State (2012-19), including his final two seasons as running backs coach.
Mele’s 2019 running backs unit featured All-Pac-12 honorable mention Max Borghi, who led the Cougars and ranked third in the conference in total yards from scrimmage with 1,414. His 16 touchdowns from scrimmage were the second-most in the Pac-12, while his 86 receptions led the nation among running backs.
In 2018, Mele’s running backs were highlighted by a couple dynamic playmakers in All-Pac-12 honorable mention James Williams and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honorable mention Borghi. Washington State running backs combined to lead all Pac-12 running back groups with 145 receptions and tallied the second-most total touchdowns (28). Williams led the FBS among running backs with 83 catches, and Borghi scored 12 total touchdowns, tying the Washington State single-season record for total touchdowns by a freshman.
Prior to that he served as the Cougars’ special teams coordinator from 2015-17. He was promoted to the full-time special teams coach in February 2015, after serving in the same role on an interim basis the final two months of the 2014 campaign. Mele spent his first two and a half seasons at Washington State in an offensive quality control position, working with film breakdown and assisting with the development of quarterbacks.
Mele mentored All-Pac-12 Second Team kicker Erik Powell in 2017. Powell finished his Washington State career third on the school’s all-time points kicking list (317). He earned Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week three times during the season and was also a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. Powell concluded his career with a school record 164 career PATs and third in Cougar history for field goals made (51) and field goal percentage (72.9). Under Mele, Washington State’s special teams produced the sixth-ranked punt coverage team in the FBS and didn’t allow a special teams touchdown for the first time since 2005.
In 2016, Washington State produced impressive special teams numbers and reached multiple milestones under Mele. The Cougars recorded their first kick return for a TD since 2003 and first punt return for a score since 2005 (first time to record both in the same season since 1968). The Cougars scored twice on special teams in a victory against Idaho, returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown and later scoring after recovering a fumble during a kickoff. In Pac-12 play, Mele’s group was the top-ranked punt return unit (18.8 yards-per-return) and second in kick return (23.0 yards-per-return). The punt return unit finished ninth in the country after averaging 13.5 yards-per-return.
Prior to Washington State, Mele spent five seasons as the special teams coordinator/running backs coach at Wingate University (2007-11). During his time at Wingate, Mele helped guide the Bulldogs to a 36-19 record highlighted by a second-appearance in the 2010 NCAA Division II playoffs.
Prior to Wingate, Mele spent the 2006 season as the wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator at Saint Peter’s College (N.J.) where the school finished eighth in the FCS in completions (242).
He worked the 2005 season as the co-defensive coordinator/special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Marist High School (N.J.), helping it to the program’s first playoff berth in 12 seasons. Mele also worked two seasons as the special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach at William Paterson University (N.J.).
Mele was a three-year starter at strong safety and outside linebacker at William Paterson, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminal justice in 2002. He earned his master’s degree in sports management from the American Military University in 2007.
He and his wife, Melissa, have four daughters, Samantha, Jordan, Taylor and Madison.
Hometown: Bridgewater, N.J.
Education: William Paterson, 2002 (B.S., Sociology/Criminal Justice); American Military, 2007 (M.A., Sports Management)
Wife: Melissa
Children: Samantha, Jordan, Taylor, Madison
Birthday: Nov. 13, 1978
2020-21: Mississippi State (Running Backs)
2018-19: Washington State (Running Backs)
2015-17: Washington State (Special Teams)
2014: Washington State (Interim Special Teams)
2012-14: Washington State (Offensive Quality Control)
2007-11: Wingate [N.C.] (Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs)
2006: Saint Peter’s College [N.J.] (Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2003-04: William Paterson [N.J.] (Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2021 Liberty Bowl (Mississippi State)
2020 Armed Forces Bowl (Mississippi State)
2019 Cheez-It Bowl (Washington State)
2018 Alamo Bowl (Washington State)
2017 Holiday Bowl (Washington State)
2016 Holiday Bowl (Washington State)
2015 Sun Bowl (Washington State)
2013 New Mexico Bowl (Washington State)
2010 NCAA DII Playoffs First, Second Round (Wingate)
