Bill Melvin’s background and personality combine to make him one of the most outstanding, well-respected baseball coaches in the metro-Atlanta area.  He works well with all ages, from the youngest child who never played baseball to the pro prospect who is honing his skills for the MLB draft.  As you might have guessed by the name of his company (Pitching for Excellence), his specialty is definitely pitching.  He has offered individual lessons and baseball camps since 1991.  His philosophy of building champion pitchers by developing the total person has proven to be very effective.  To illustrate that approach, Coach Melvin teaches his baseball campers skills such as the proper techniques for hitting, fielding, base-running, and pitching; but, each day of camp, he takes the time to also talk about other issues that youngsters face such as staying drug-free, being respectful to parents, and CDC (Choices-Decisions-Consequences).  Whether they intend to or not, Bill’s students acquire the skills that will help them be successful in baseball and in life.

Bill Melvin grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina.  He attended Athens Drive Senior High School where he played baseball, soccer, and basketball.  He also ran cross country, but, baseball was always his first love.  He played shortstop, right field, and, of course, pitched for his team.  He led his team in batting average and recorded 127 strikeouts in 88 innings his senior year.  Not surprisingly, he was voted MVP of his high school team, named Wake County AAAA Player of the Year, and was recognized with all-state honors.  He attended Louisburg College in North Carolina on a pitching scholarship where he recorded a 1.3 ERA his freshman year.  Because Louisburg College is a junior college, he was eligible for the draft after his first year of college; so, in 1986 the Chicago Cubs drafted Bill in the 8^th round.  He played in the minor leagues with the Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates for over seven years making it as high as AAA.  He was known for his wicked fast ball (clocked as high as 93), but he could also mix it up with a curve ball, change-up, and cut fastball.  During his professional career, he recorded over 700 strikeouts!  Three times, he was invited to participate in the elite instructional league with the other top minor league prospects; and, in 1990, he was honored with The Lou Kahn Award for being the best Cub role model for sportsmanship and character.

Outside of baseball, Bill’s life revolves around his family, his church, and his community.  He met his wife, Leeanne, at a church retreat in Jekyll Island when they were young teenagers.  A remarkable chain of events brought them back together many years later, and they were married in 1992.  They have identical twin girls, Alex and Aly, and another daughter, Haley.  Coach Melvin is an active member of Clairmont Presbyterian Church where he has served on a number of committees and held various leadership positions.  After he left baseball, his professional life eventually led him into the insurance industry where he enjoyed a great deal of success; but, his love for baseball and his enthusiasm for working with young people eventually drew him back into the sport. 

Since he moved to Atlanta in 1991, Bill Melvin has worked with over 300 athletes in private lessons and many more in his camps.  Always an advocate for his players, he spends a great deal of time and effort writing referrals and letters of recommendation, making phone calls, or doing whatever it takes to help his kids move on to the next level.  In fact, over 50 of his students have gone on to play college baseball, and more than a dozen have earned the opportunity to play pro ball.  Bill's students describe him as very knowledgeable, good at explaining complicated concepts, extremely patient, and "...just a great guy!"  Coach Melvin explains why he enjoys his profession, “I teach not only the mechanical part of the game, but also the mental part.  I want [my students] to learn and execute what I’m teaching them, but the real joy is in seeing a kid feel better about himself when he conquers a challenge.  I love seeing a kid smile after a lesson.”