Jamil Ferrer | March 12, 2026
After eight seasons FIU has fired Men’s Basketball Head Coach Jeremy Ballard immediately following the team’s 75-72 deficit to Missouri State men’s basketball in the first round of the Conference USA tournament.
FIU Athletic Director Scott Carr released a statement regarding the decision to move on from the former coach.
“I want to thank Jeremy for pouring his heart and soul into the program the past eight years… Jeremy is one of the best human beings and leaders I have ever encountered.”
He also went on to explain the reason for the change.
“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.”
As of now Jeremy Ballard himself has yet to make a public statement about the firing, yet should be expected to make one in the following days.
Ballard’s overall record as a coach at FIU ended with 113 wins and 141 losses, meaning he has a .445 winning percentage. Only having two winning seasons back in 2018-19 (20-14) and 2019-20 (19-13). Besides that, FIU has been hovering around .500 or below.
The former head coach has also led a team who’s never made the NCAA tournament. During his tenure at FIU they’ve been in 0 NCAA Tournament appearances, and only 1 postseason appearances. The last time FIU has been in an NCAA Tournament was in 1995, before Ballard arrived.
Likely sealing the deal for FIU, their men’s basketball team ended the 2026 season with a final record of 15-17 while being 8-12 in Conference USA.
As Ballard was in his final year of a contract extension he signed in 2021, they decided to not renew it and head into the rebuilding process.
Yet, Jeremy Ballard did accomplish some things like becoming FIU’s all-time winningest Division I coach at one point, have one of the best seasons in program history, and helped develop numerous players.
As both Ballard and FIU head their separate ways, there’s still no doubt that his eight years with the program has shaped the foundation of what’s next to come for the Panther’s Basketball Team.
(Cover Photo Via FIU Athletics)
