Coach Melo completed his third season at the University of West Florida in 2025 as the Argos’ Defensive Run Game Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach, continuing to shape one of the most disruptive and physically dominant defensive fronts in college football.
In 2025, UWF’s defense reached historic levels of production behind Melo’s defensive line. The Argos allowed just 39.9 rushing yards per game, the lowest mark in Gulf South Conference history and No. 1 nationally, while also leading the country in yards per rush (1.5). For the second straight season, West Florida led all of college football across all divisions in tackles for loss, cementing the unit as the most disruptive front in the sport. Additionally, for back-to-back seasons, the defensive line finished top three nationally in both sacks and third-down defense.
Under Melo’s guidance, the Argos’ defense continued its sustained excellence, finishing No. 1 in the Gulf South Conference for the third consecutive season in total defense, rush defense, sacks, tackles for loss, and turnovers. The defense’s dominance helped UWF post a 10–2 record and another nationally ranked season.
Melo’s 2025 defensive line was one of the most decorated in the league, earning four First Team All-GSC selections:
- Kevin Roberts-Sophomore (DL)
- Lorenzo Payne Sophomore (DL)
- Justice Williams Junior (DL)
- Collin Shaw senior (DL)
Nationally, Sophomore Kevin Roberts earned CFB Network Division II Third Team All-American honors, extending UWF’s streak to three consecutive All-American defensive linemen developed under Coach Melo. Roberts was also selected to the D2Football.com 2025 Elite 100, D2Football’s version of an All-America team.
In 2024, Melo’s group led all of college football in tackles for loss per game (11) and yards per play allowed (3.6) while finishing third nationally in total defense and sacks per game. Traevon Mitchell was named GSC Defensive Player of the Year and earned Associated Press Second Team All-American and Don Hansen Second Team All-American honors, becoming the second straight All-American defensive lineman developed by Melo at UWF.
Melo’s first season in Pensacola in 2023 set the foundation for UWF’s defensive identity. John McMullen became the first player in program history to earn Unanimous First Team All-American and GSC Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season, finishing second nationally in sacks and setting a school record with 22 tackles for loss.
Across his first three seasons at West Florida (2023–2025), Coach Melo has developed three All-Americans and nine All-GSC defensive linemen, including five First-Team selections and two GSC Defensive Players of the Year (2023, 2024).
All-Americans developed at UWF:
- John McMullen (2023) — Unanimous First Team All-American
- Traevon Mitchell (2024) — AP Second Team & Don Hansen Second Team All-American
- Kevin Roberts (2025) — CFB Network Third Team All-American; D2Football.com Elite 100
All-GSC selections under Melo:
- 2023: John McMullen (First Team), Jacob Dorn (First Team), Byron Puryear (Second Team)
- 2024: Traevon Mitchell (First Team), Collin Shaw (First Team), Anthony Ballard (Second Team)
- 2025: Kevin Roberts (First Team), Lorenzo Payne (First Team), Justice Williams (First Team), Collin Shaw (First Team)
Before arriving at West Florida, Melo spent four seasons at Davenport University, where he helped the program reach its highest national ranking in school history (No. 13 in 2022). His defensive lines consistently ranked among the best in Division II and produced multiple All-Conference and All-American performers while establishing Davenport as one of the premier defensive fronts in the GLIAC.
Notable players developed under Melo at Davenport include:
- Robert Clanton, who earned First Team All-GLIAC and Don Hansen All-American honors in 2019.
- Patrick McMahon, a two-time First Team Academic All-American.
- Additional All-GLIAC defensive linemen including Austin Alward, Malik Barrow, Abe Thompson, Tierre Turner, Brendan Bowman, and Geemonte Peck.
Melo previously coached at Wayne State College, where his defensive lines ranked top-10 nationally in sacks. He developed multiple All-Conference, All-Region, and Academic All-American performers, including:
- Jacob Protzman, who finished his senior season with 12.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss.
- Kolby Foster, who recorded 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior.
At the junior college level, Melo coached at Ellsworth College and Los Angeles Pierce College, playing a major role in the development of All-Americans Keonte Schad, Eric Mateo, and Blaze Alldredge, and helping send seven defensive linemen to NCAA Division I programs, including two top-10 national JUCO prospects.
A former defensive lineman at Southeast Missouri State University, Melo earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in educational leadership. He later played three seasons of professional arena football, earning All-League honors and serving as team captain.
Coach Melo has three daughters, Brooklyn Melo, Brielle Melo and Alorah Melo
