Christopher Rodriguez | Staff Writer
FIU Athletics Director Scott Carr announced Joey Cantens as the next men’s basketball head coach.
Cantens, who played at FIU as a guard under head coach Mike Gilligan, returns as the 10th head coach in program history.
He began his coaching career at Florida State University as a graduate assistant coach in 2009 to 2011. In his time with the Seminoles he helped them reach the Sweet 16.
From 2011 to 2014, Coach Cantens worked at Florida Gulf Coast University as director of operations, where the Eagles had a notable run in 2013. FGCU won the ASUN conference, earned the No. 15 in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating Georgetown in the First Round and San Diego State in the Second.
Cantens also spent his summers from 2011 to 2014 with the Dominican Republic’s national team staff.
He worked under Basketball Hall of Famer and current Arkansas head coach John Calipari.
He later served time at the University of Southern California as the director of scouting and video operations from 2014 to 15. He spent the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach for Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The former point guard would also spend two years in Germany as an assistant coach for the Herbeisen White Wings and MHP Reisen.
Cantens was an NBA guest coach for the San Antonio Spurs in 2018.
After coming back to FGCU from 2018 to 21, Cantens earned his first head coach position with the Daytona State College Falcons in 2021.
He has won four conference championships, won conference coach of the year four times, made three NJCAA Tournament appearances and has a 120-40 record from 2022 to 2026.
Cantens said during his introductory press conference as FIU’s head coach, “It’s truly an honor to return home to Miami and represent a university that means so much to our community. I’m excited to work, build meaningful relationships and create something special here in my hometown that will make our community proud.”
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