FIU to hire Joey Cantens as next basketball head coach

On Friday, news broke that FIU hired Daytona State head coach Joey Cantens to become the men’s basketball head coach. Lemon City Live was able to confirm the report. Cantens will become the program’s 10th head coach. He replaces Jeremy Ballard, who’s contract was not renewed. The program has not yet confirmed the hire.

Per Pete Thamel, the FIU Panthers have hired Joey Cantens to become the next men's basketball head coach

Cantens, who was at Daytona State, posted a 108–36 record, including a dominant 97–17 run over his last three seasons.#FIU #PawsUp #Panthers pic.twitter.com/WclFkwp5xv

— Paws Up Podcast (@PawsUpPodcast) March 21, 2026

Cantens, 39, who previously served as head coach of the Daytona State Falcons, put together a 26–7 record during the 2025–26 season and led the team to the 2026 NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. His team remains in contention, set to face Jones College on March 21.

He also brings strong South Florida ties. Cantens played at FIU in 2005 and later served as a graduate assistant at Florida State in 2011, when the Seminoles advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. In his lone season with the Panthers, Cantens played in eight games. They went

Cantens spent several years at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), beginning in 2018 as an assistant under Michael Fly, where he oversaw scouting, game preparation, film breakdown, and recruiting. Prior to that role, he served as the program’s director of basketball operations from 2011–14, contributing to the famed “Dunk City” team that reached the Sweet Sixteen in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. He remained on staff for another season and helped FGCU capture its first regular-season ASUN title in 2014.

He also brings extensive international experience. Cantens spent two years in Germany in the professional ranks, helping MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg to a fourth-place finish in the 2018 Basketball Champions League. Additionally, he worked with the Dominican Republic National Team from 2011–14 under Hall of Fame coach John Calipari and current Illinois assistant Orlando Antigua. During that time, the team achieved historic success, including a third-place finish at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, the best in program history, and qualification for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where it reached the Round of 16 for the first time.

Cantens has also spent time with the San Antonio Spurs organization as a guest coach for the Spurs’ 2018 Summer League Team.

Last season, under Ballard, FIU posted a 15-17 overall record, going 8-12 in Conference USA play. The Panthers fell to the Missouri State Bears in the first round of the conference tournament.