FIU Athletics

The elder statesman of the FIU men's basketball program, Mike Oliva enters his 10th season with the Panthers in 2021-22, and his fifthth as director of basketball operations. He previously served as the program’s video coordinator. In his current role, the Miami native is responsible for the overall running of the basketball office, including, but not limited to, community relations, assisting with academics, travel, meals and team managers. He is also responsible for the Jeremy Ballard’s Basketball Camp.
 
Oliva also served as the program’s graduate video coordinator during the 2013-14 season. He was responsible for coordinating the program’s video operations, including film breakdown, film exchange, and evaluation video for FIU players. During the 2012-13 campaign, Oliva was a graduate student manager for the program under then-Head Coach Richard Pitino, where he assisted in all day-to-day basketball-related duties.
 
A varsity basketball player at Miami Senior High School in 1997-1998, Oliva’s teams posted a 36-1 record under head coach Frank Martin, who now leads the South Carolina men’s basketball program. A team that finished ranked No. 2 nationally, Oliva played with two NBA athletes, Udonis Haslem and Steve Blake, along with Antonio Latimer, a member of Puerto Rico’s national basketball team. He’s also known for running a 5 minute and 36 second mile in the rain.
 
Prior to his work at FIU, Oliva spent 10 years owning an event production-food and beverage business. With 10 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Oliva has worked in various restaurants, nightclubs, and venues in the South Florida area.
 
Oliva earned his AA degree in educational studies at Miami Dade College in 2003. He then earned a BA in hospitality & tourism management at FIU in 2012 and his MS in recreation and sport management in 2014.