FIU parts ways with head baseball coach Rich Witten after four seasons

On Friday, D1Baseball national reporter Kendall Rogers broke the news that FIU is parting ways with head baseball coach Rich Witten after four seasons. Paws Up Podcast can independently confirm the news. The school has yet to make an announcement. In four seasons with the program, Witten posted a 98-126 overall record, most recently going 19-35 (10-20 CUSA) and failing to make the conference tournament.

After four seasons, FIU is parting ways with head baseball coach Rich Witten, @KendallRogers is reporting.

He went 98-126 in his career

Last season, FIU went 19-35 with a 10-20 conference record, failing to make the tournament.#FIU #PawsUp pic.twitter.com/jxbt787XBS

— Paws Up Podcast (@PawsUpPodcast) May 22, 2026

Witten, originally hired before the 2023 season, replaced Mervyl Melendez, who was let go following the 2022 season, in which the Panthers went. Witten came from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he served as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator since 2018.

In the 2024 season, Witten and the Panthers went 27-30, the most wins since 2018, and reached the Conference USA tournament for the first time in six years. That season included wins over power conference opponents Notre Dame and the University of Miami. The offense posted a .293 batting average, the highest since 2011 and as a member of Conference USA.

At the conclusion of that season, FIU had five all-conference players and pitchers Owen Puk and Easton Marks were selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, the first two draft picks under Witten.

In 2025, the Panthers posted a 31-27 record, the first time FIU finished over .500 since 2017, but failed to advance in the winners’ bracket of the conference tournament after beginning with a win over Kennesaw State.

This past season marked the worst since 2022, failing to make the conference tournament, having no all-conference selections and posted a program-worst 7.59 ERA.

Two names that have circulated have been Bethune-Cookman head coach Johnny Hernandez and Stetson head coach Greg Lovelady.

About Post Author

Kevin Barral

Hello, my name is Kevin Barral. I am currently covering FIU Football for Lemon City, but have been covering Miami Marlins baseball since the 2021 season with Fish Stripes and that has been my main forte so far in my young sports media career. I am excited to cover FIU Football this season and moving forward. I love to travel, play sports, and go out with my friends to Flanigans when not covering or writing.

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