Mell, John E. “Vic” - 1973
Mell made his mark in athletics as a player and coach. A three-sport starter at Benedictine Military School (1936-40), he was a football end, basketball guard, and baseball catcher. He achieved All-GIAA status in basketball in 1940. After his prep career, he played football, basketball, and baseball at the University of Miami (1944-47) and captained the Miami football team his senior year.
In 1949, he began a successful coaching career at Benedictine which would span nearly twenty years through 1968. During that time, Mell had a 60% winning record as head football coach, won ten city championships, and earned two region titles. He also won two region championships in basketball. Mell was awarded Region 2-AAA Coach of the Year in both football and basketball and received City Coach of the Year honors several times.