FIU Softball head coach Mike Larabee announced his retirement today after spending the previous five seasons with the program.
Coach Larabee has been in a cancer battle over the last two seasons. When he first took over the role, FIU Softball was coming off a disappointing 14-win season in 2021.
In his second season with the Panthers, they doubled their conference wins and advanced to the Conference USA Championship for the first time since 2018.
Now in 2026, he’s leaving campus with a historic 34-win season. They were his most since 2017, when they won 46 games. His 16 conference wins were also the most since the 2017 season, and he won 63 games over the past two years.
Larabee first announced his Myelofibrosis cancer in January 2025, causing him to temporarily step away from the team that season. This is a rare chronic blood cancer that impacts the bone marrow. He was able to coach the Panthers for most of their games this past season.
“First, I would like to thank Director of Athletics Scott Carr and Sport Administrator Julie Berg for their tremendous support over the past five years,” Larabee said.
“I truly could not have asked for a better relationship with our administration. I also want to thank Associate Head Coach Mike Meyers and Assistant Coach Danielle Cassara for their time, dedication and commitment to helping build our program into one that earned respect and recognition.Additionally, I want to recognize our student-athletes for their hard work, dedication and commitment to the program throughout my time at FIU. Their passion and perseverance helped lay the foundation for the success we achieved together.
When you leave a program, the goal is always to leave it better than you found it, and I’m proud that our staff was able to accomplish that together.
I’m incredibly excited about the future of FIU Softball and the continued success that lies ahead for the program.”
As an NCAA coach, Mike Larabee had 537 total wins over his 20 seasons. His coaching career has taken him to Wright State, Arkansas, Central Washington (D-II), and FIU.
At Florida International University, Larabee accumulated 127 wins over five seasons and had eight players earn All-Conference status. The Panthers had four players earn All-CUSA honors in 2026, the most for the team in their Conference USA era since 2014.
The FIU Softball program will immediately begin its search for a new head coach.
He’s a diehard 305 native who roots for his hometown teams in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Recently, he graduated from FIU with an MBA, but now he’s a Lemonhead covering UM basketball. Known to be anywhere and everywhere, you may catch him at a Miami sporting event.
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