Mel Gardner

Coach & Teacher

Mel Gardner started his career at William Penn High School (WPHS) in 1981 as Head Baseball coach. His teams amassed a 370-208 record in his 30 seasons as head coach.They won 11 Blue Hen Conference Championships, one state championship and four other finalist appearances.He was selected Blue Hen Conference Coach of the Year 10 times, American Baseball Coaches Association District 2 Coach of the Year in 2006, selected to the Delaware Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2008 and to the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December of 2014. Approximately 100 of his players played college baseball and 10 others moved to the professional ranks.He strived to get his players and teams the recognition they deserved at the conference, state, regional and national levels.His teams also won the Umpires Sportsmanship Award three times, reflecting their respect for opposing players, coaches, umpires and the game of baseball.In addition, his teams have given back to the community during his tenure.They were one of the top fundraising teams for Big Brothers Big Sisters.Gardner has served the Blue Hen Conference, Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association in many capacities, including Blue Hen Conference rep, state tournament committee, Hall of Fame committee, Blue Gold All-Star Game, Carpenter Cup, Executive Board of Delaware Baseball Coaches Association (DEBCA), and Executive Secretary, and President of DEBCA. With the national organization BCA, he is currently second vice president and has served on many committees in his 20 years with the group.

In addition to his work on the diamond Gardner has served the Colonial School District community and students in other capacities over the years.He has been a Health and Physical Education teacher, Coordinator of In-School Suspension program at Gunning Bedford Middle, Counselor for the Alternative Learning Program (program for at risk youth), Guidance Counselor and Department Chairperson of Counselors. Under Gardner’s leadership, the Guidance Department assisted WPHS students in receiving well over $1,000,000 per year in scholarship aid, along with helping them reach their goal of higher education and training.Gardner’s last 5 years in the district were spent designing and working with our truancy prevention program as a Visiting Teacher.Gardner also coached wrestling at WPHS and Gunning Bedford Middle Schools. During his last 13 years in the district he served as Assistant Athletic Director at WPHS, in charge of eligibility, recruiting and awards.

Gardner retired in June of 2014 from serving the Colonial community but still remains very supportive of their programs.He resides in Newark, with wife Betsy (married for 36 years) and is very active and supportive of their children Megan (31) and Scott (27), and first grandchild, Abigail (4 months).