MIAMI – Bringing nearly two decades of collegiate and professional experience along with a proven pedigree as a championship-winning head coach, Miami native Joey Cantens has been named the 10th head coach in FIU men's basketball program history, Panthers' Director of Athletics Scott Carr announced on Friday.
 
Cantens, 39, has spent the past five seasons as the head coach of Daytona State College, leading the Falcons to an incredible 109-21 record (84%) over the last four years as part of a career head coaching mark of 120-40 (75%). In the past four seasons, he has captured four-consecutive conference championships and won Conference Coach of the Year every single season while averaging more than 93 points per game.
 
The last two seasons in Daytona Beach have produced school-record 28-win campaigns, a national ranking as high as #2, NJCAA National Tournament qualification for the first time in 25 years in 2023-24 and a quarterfinal appearance in 2024-25. The 2025-26 season for Cantens and Daytona State is not over yet as the Falcons – currently 26-7 – begin the NJCAA National Tournament with a First Round matchup on Saturday, Mar. 21, at 1 p.m. ET against Jones College.
 
Details regarding a formal press conference introduction of Cantens will take place shortly following the conclusion of Daytona State's season.
 
"I want to sincerely thank President Jeanette Nuñez, Athletic Director Scott Carr and the entire search committee for this incredible opportunity to lead the men's basketball program at FIU," said Cantens. "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 get to work, build meaningful relationships and create something special here in my hometown that will make our community proud."
 
Carrying an up-tempo offensive philosophy, Cantens' Daytona State teams ranked in the top 15 nationally in scoring each of the past four seasons:
 
2022-23: 7th, 93.7 ppg
2023-24: 2nd, 96.5 ppg
2024-25: 7th, 93.5 ppg
2025-26: 14th, 89.8 ppg

Additionally, his teams have averaged 52% from the field and 38% from 3-point range during his head coaching career, which has been rooted in strong recruiting of not just the state of Florida, but nationally and globally as an assistant coach in the Dominican Republic and Germany.
 
Cantens – widely regarded as a top recruiter of Florida talent in the NJCAA – has worked with renowned coaches Leonard Hamilton, John Calipari, Andy Enfield and others, and has been a part of two NCAA Sweet Sixteen teams at Florida State and FGCU. Internationally, Cantens was an assistant coach on teams that reached the European Champions League Final Four, had a 3rd-place finish in the FIBA America's Championship and a #20 FIBA world ranking with the Dominican Republic National Team.
 
The affable Cantens – whose uncle, Bernie, played basketball for FIU from 1984-87 – began his collegiate playing career at FIU as a freshman in 2005-06 after graduating from Miami Christian High School – not even two miles from FIU's campus.
 
"I'm thrilled to welcome Joey; his wife, Mel; daughter, Camila, and son, Luca, to the FIU family," said Carr. "First and foremost, Joey is a winner – he's won 84% of his games as a head coach over the past four years and has learned from some of the best and most respected coaches in the sport. His basketball acumen, passion for the game and the way he builds genuine relationships with his student-athletes and administration were evident in every conversation we had.
 
"Joey's deep ties to Miami and the state of Florida will elevate our recruiting as well as our community support. His connections and experience nationally and internationally make him uniquely positioned to grow the program and expand our reach in profound and impactful ways. I'd like to thank President Jeannette Nuñez for her unwavering support throughout this process and would like to especially thank the search committee members who gave so much of their time and played an integral role: Carlos Arroyo, Bob Namoff, Heath Glick, and Matthew Lisiewski. The future of FIU men's basketball is bright. Paws Up!"
 
Prior to his time at Daytona State, Cantens served as an assistant coach at FGCU from 2018-21 where he was responsible for opponent scouting, game preparation and film analysis in addition to recruiting. He also spent three years as FGCU's Director of Operations from 2011-14, a stretch that included the Eagles' historic and ESPY Award-winning run through the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
 
That year saw FGCU – with its "Dunk City" moniker – win the ASUN Conference in only its second season of eligibility, defeat Georgetown and San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament, and become the first No. 15 seed to reach the Sweet Sixteen.
 
Cantens later joined the staff of former FGCU head coach Andy Enfield at the University of Southern California and served as the Trojans' Director of Scouting and Video Operations during the 2014-15 season. He returned to the East Coast one year later as an assistant coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, helping the Division-II powerhouse to a 21-8 record and the PSAC West Division title. While at IUP, Cantens recruited Jacobo Diaz – a member of the Spanish U18 National Team – who later became a First Team All-American and three-time all-conference performer.
 
"I'm excited to welcome Coach Joey Cantens back home to South Florida as the new head coach of our FIU's men's basketball team," said President Nuñez. "With his leadership, we are ready to embrace a relentless pursuit of excellence and usher in a new era for our program. I invite our FIU community to stand behind Coach Cantens as we build something special together and soar to new heights."
 
Following the 2015-16 season at IUP, Cantens moved to Germany where he spent two years in the professional ranks as an assistant coach with Hebeisen White Wings and MHP Riesen. During the 2017-18 campaign, he helped lead MHP Riesen – which plays in Germany's top league – to a 4th-place finish in the Basketball Champions League, the continent-wide tournament for Europe's top professional teams.
 
His international experience also includes time with the Dominican Republic National Team between 2011-14, where he worked under Hall of Fame coach John Calipari and current Illinois associate head coach Orlando Antigua, and helped the squad reach new heights. The team finished third at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship – the highest finish in program history – and later, under Antigua, qualified for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup where it established another high-water mark by reaching the Round of 16 for the first time. He also was an assistant coach with Leones de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic for the summer of 2014.
 
Cantens has also spent time with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs as a guest coach for their 2018 Summer League team, instilling offensive and defensive concepts, conducting individual development workouts and assisting with practice and game planning.
 
"I am excited to welcome Joey Cantens as he takes the reins of our FIU men's basketball program," stated FIU Board of Trustees Chair Carlos Duart. "Coach Cantens brings energy, passion and the mindset to lead our team on a path to victory. I look forward to supporting our Panthers as he sets a new standard of excellence for FIU."
 
One of the top-50 high school players in Florida coming out of high school, Cantens transferred to Eckerd College as a sophomore following his initial year at FIU and helped the Tritons twice reach the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance, and was a recipient of the program's Triton Award. That honor is presented each year to a student-athlete who reaches the highest levels of athletic achievement, scholarship and leadership.
 
Cantens earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Eckerd in 2009, and his Master of Science in Sports Management from Florida State in 2011. While at FSU, he served as a graduate assistant, playing an integral role in the Seminoles' Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2011.
 
Cantens is married to the former Mel Thomas, herself a standout player as she garnered a McDonald's All-American honor in high school and went on to become a 1,000-point scorer at UConn. They have a 5-year-old daughter, Camila, and a 2-year-old son, Luca.
 
THE JOEY CANTENS FILE
Hometown: Miami, FL
Alma Mater: Eckerd, 2009 (Business Management)
Wife: Mel
Children: Camila (5), Luca (2)
Birthday: Dec. 12, 1986
 
COACHING TIMELINE
2009-11: Florida State (Graduate Assistant)
2011-14: FGCU (Director of Operations)
2011-14 Summers: Dominican Republic National Team (Staff Member)
2014 Summer: Leones de Santo Domingo – Dominican Republic (Assistant Coach)
2014-15: USC (Director of Scouting and Video Operations)
2015-16: Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Assistant Coach)
2016-17: Hebeisen White Wings – Germany (Assistant Coach)
2017-18: MHP Riesen – Germany (Assistant Coach)
2018 Summer: San Antonio Spurs (Guest Coach)
2018-21: FGCU (Assistant Coach)
2021-26: Daytona State (Head Coach)
 
YEAR-BY-YEAR AT DAYTONA STATE
2021-22: 11-19 (3-12)
2022-23: 27-4 (14-1) | Central Conference Champions
2023-24: 28-4 (14-2) | Citrus Conference Champions | NJCAA Tournament
2024-25: 28-6 (14-2) | Citrus Conference Champions | NJCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
2025-26: 26-7* (13-3) | Citrus Conference Champions | NJCAA Tournament*
* Season Not Yet Complete
 
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