MIAMI, FL – “It’s a great day to be a Panther,” is what Athletic Director Scott Carr opened up with on Friday morning from the Graham Center, located in the Modesto Maidique campus at FIU, to introduce Joey Cantens, the 10th men’s basketball coach in program history.
Joey Cantens is officially introduced as the 10th men’s basketball coach in program history#FIU #PawsUp #Panthers pic.twitter.com/gIsgYrGBw4
— Paws Up Podcast (@PawsUpPodcast) March 27, 2026
The top four qualifications that Carr brought up when it came to who he wanted to become the next head coach was having a winner, someone who could recruit South Florida, along with the international level, and someone who could build a strong culture and authentic relationships. The final qualification was having someone who “could excite the South Florida community.”
“He played at FIU, he knows what it means to wear this jersey,” Carr said. “He is very well respected, something I learned throughout the process and after the process. From what I’ve seen and heard, the community and Panther Nation are already excited about him leading our program.”
Some of the main points that Carr noted in his opening statement regarding Cantens was the fact that in his time at Daytona State, he won 75% of his games, and within the past two seasons, he won 84% of his games.
As Carr was thanking everyone in the process, someone who was mentioned was former guard and FIU basketball legend Carlos Arroyo. Carr later said that Arroyo has wanted to be more involved with the program and he was part of the search for the next men’s basketball coach. Arroyo’s experience as the general manager for the Puerto Rican National Team and being a former player who was at FIU (1997-2001) brought a unique, but necessary perspective to the process.
“He volunteered and quickly saw how different it is from the pro level,” Carr said. “Carlos (Arroyo) wanted to be more involved with FIU and help win. His perspective, experience as a former high-level player, and current role as a GM brought valuable insight—his basketball knowledge was special.”
Cantens, who was previously at Daytona State College (JUCO), just wrapped up a 27-8 season, which included an appearance in the NJCAA DI Men’s Basketball Championship- Second Round. The news that Cantens took the job broke on Friday, March 20, in the middle of their chase for the JUCO National Championship. Cantens Falcons squad found out that their coach was moving up to the Division One level through social media.
“I was at a coaches meeting and (the players) were at dinner, so when we got back to the hotel, it was cool to see their excitement and their joy for me,” Cantens told the Paws Up Podcast minutes after his introductory press conference.
A Miami native, Cantens would sneak into the Ocean Bank Convocation Center late at night to practice on the court and work out in the gym before he would be caught and kicked out. He was also a former player here during the 2005-06 season, playing in eight games before transferring to Eckard College.
“This is home,” Cantens said. “I literally walked the halls, so for me, this is a special place. I grew up coming to the games and sneaking into the gym.”
FIU is coming off a disappointing 15-17 season, falling in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament. With the administration backing the program with enough money to build a team, it came down to coaching and how the program was run. That is where Cantens and his winning background come into play.
“Hearing through the interview process what the president and athletic director were talking about is that they want to win,” Cantens said. “I think I bring a formula and system and an offensive idea that we can win here with everybody on the same page.”
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