BREAKING - FIU Parts Ways With Head Coach Jeremy Ballard

As reported earlier today, and later confirmed by the Paws Up Podcast, Men’s basketball head coach Jeremy Ballard will not have his contract renewed. Going into the 2025-26 season, Ballard was in the final year of a four-year contract extension awarded to him in 2021.

The news comes following the Panthers’ 75-72 loss to the Missouri State Bears in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama.

“I want to thank Jeremy for pouring his heart and soul into the program for the past eight years, and for the genuine and respectful manner in which he operated every day,” said FIU Athletics Director Scott Carr. “Jeremy is one of the best human beings and leaders I have ever encountered, and his authenticity carried over into the student-athletes he coached and the culture he established.”

“Jeremy has left the program in a better position than he inherited, and I want to thank him for that improvement. However, the on-court success has not been to the level we aspire to; we want to be competing for conference championships and NCAA Tournament berths. With that standard in place, a comprehensive national search will begin immediately, and there will be no further comment until that is completed.”

The new coach, whom FIU will immediately search for, will be the tenth in program history.

A Historic Tenure For The Panthers

Jeremy Ballard wraps up his time at FIU with a 113-141 overall record and a 50-95 record in Conference USA play. His last winning season with the Panthers was the 2019-20 season, when they went 19-13. Ballard had only one season with a conference record over .500 – his first, the 2018-19 season.

When it comes to postseason success, the Panthers have not gotten past the second round of the Conference USA Tournament during his tenure. To note, their chance to do so in the 2020 CUSA Tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The only other postseason action a Ballard-led Panthers team has seen occurred in the 2019-20 season. They made it to the Collegeinsider.com Tournament, losing in the second round.

JB has climbed the mountain 🏔️

Win #1️⃣0️⃣9️⃣ and Jeremy Ballard is the WINNINGEST coach in FIU history! pic.twitter.com/K9yDvw95hl

— FIU Men's Basketball (@FIUHoops) February 5, 2026

Ballard arrived at FIU after serving as associate head coach at VCU. His 113 wins are the most by any coach in program history. It broke the mark set by Rich Walker back in early February.

The new head coach for the Panthers will have to craft a brand-new team for the upcoming season. FIU is losing seven seniors and will likely lose more to the transfer portal.

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