MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University announced Monday the addition of softball to the athletics department, with competition slated to begin in Spring 2022. Jones also named the head coaches for nascent softball and women's flag football programs Monday.

Flag football, which was announced as FMU's 11th varsity sport in May 2020, is slated to begin Spring 2021.

Pedro Herrera was named as FMU's first head softball coach of softball while Jonathan Alvarez was tabbed the women's inaugural flag football coach.

Herrera comes to Florida Memorial University after serving as head softball coach at Broward College before his season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During Herrera's time at Broward, all players maintained a 3.0 or better grade-point average.

"I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to build the Florida Memorial University softball program," Herrera said. "We want to recruit the best student-athletes in the country, and I can't wait to get started."

In Alvarez, the Lions bring in a coach that has an extensive history in Flag Football in the state of Florida and previously served as the girl's flag football offensive coordinator at Mater Academy High School in Hialeah Gardens, Florida.

"I want to thank Florida Memorial University for giving me the opportunity to lead the Lions in their inaugural collegiate flag football season," Alvarez said. "I am extremely excited for the season to begin and to compete in this league. Flag football runs deep in Miami-Dade County's veins, and we finally get to showcase what our women can do on the football field."

The addition of softball and women's flag football allows Florida Memorial University to continue to meet Title IX gender equity compliance requirements. FMU's other recent women's sports addition was beach volleyball in 2020.