FIU men’s basketball head coach Jeremy Ballard announced on Monday that assistant coach Joey Rodriguez has been elevated to the role of assistant head coach, effective immediately.
“I am thrilled to make the announcement of Joey Rodriguez as our assistant head coach,” Ballard said. “Coach Joey has played an integral role in the growth of our program since day one and has as great a basketball mind of any person I have ever been around.”
Rodriguez, who is currently in his fourth season on the FIU staff, helped guide the Panthers to a 20-win season as well as a berth in the 2019 CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT), which resulted in the first postseason win in program history.
“He has fantastic relationships with players, possesses a mastery of the tactical aspects of the game, and excels at evaluating and recruiting high level student-athletes,” Ballard added. “I am constantly blown away by the seamless transition Joey has made from being the fantastic player who led VCU to a NCAA Final Four, to an elite young coach who is ready to run his own program. Joey Rodriguez is undoubtedly a star in this profession, whom our entire staff is fortunate to be able to call a brother.”
Rodriguez was a key member of Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) historic 2011 Final Four squad. He started all 40 games while averaging 10.4 points and 5.4 assists per contest while leading the Rams to a 28-12 mark. During the NCAA Tournament run, he tabbed 9.0 points and 7.7 assists over the Rams’ five victories.
“I am lucky to say that I get to work with some of my best friends on a daily basis here at FIU,” Rodriguez said. “Coach Ballard has helped me grow as a coach and as a person. I could not be more grateful for his brotherhood. This is a player led program and I am lucky to be a part of their journey. I take great pride in helping their journey through college and what comes after.”
In all, Rodriguez helped lead VCU to four postseason berths during his career, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2009, 2011). Rodriguez ranks third in school history in both assists (580) and steals (237), as well as 21st in points (1,362).
Following graduation, Rodriguez played professionally in Puerto Rico and Turkey.
Rodriguez arrived at FIU after serving one season as director of player development at VCU, where he worked with Ballard and former Rice University head coach Mike Rhoades.
Rodriguez also worked for Rhoades as video coordinator at Rice during the 2016-17 season, where he helped the Owls to an 11-win improvement and the school’s first 20-win season in more than a decade.
Prior to his time at Rice, Rodriguez served as head coach at his high school alma mater, Lake Howell (Fla.) during the 2015-16 school year.
The Winter Park, Fla., native got his start in coaching at UCF, spending the 2012-13 season as an assistant video coordinator and helping the Knights to a 20-11 record.
Rodriguez promoted to Assistant Head Basketball Coach at FIU
