Report: Butch Davis will not return to FIU, says school sabotaged the program
FIU coach Butch Davis will not return to the Panthers program next season, a source on the team told The Herald.
A second source told the Herald that Davis was told late last week that Davis would not be asked to return next season.
Davis did not respond to phone calls or text messages from The Herald.
The Panthers have lost 16 consecutive games to FBS teams and 16 of 17 overall. This season, they are 1-9 overall and 0-5 in Conference USA. They have lost nine games in a row .
Davis, according to the first source, met with the team Monday morning. That’s when he told them he would not return.
“It was 50-50,” the first source said. “Some of the players expected it, and some were shocked.
“I was disappointed hearing the news. But [Davis] handled it the right way.”
The Panthers play North Texas on Saturday night in their 2021 home finale. The Panthers’ season ends the following week at Southern Mississippi.
“[Davis] wants the seniors to finish out strong in the last game at home,” the first source said. “He said he would be around and be in contact with players [to help those who want to go through the process of preparing for possible NFL opportunities].”
According to a report in The Action Network, Davis said FIU’s administration “sabotaged the program” by not allowing the coaches to recruit on the road the past two years. The report also alleged that FIU used Mississippi State’s old shoulder pads due to a lack of available funds for the Panthers program.
FIU athletic director Pete Garcia resigned last week. Efforts to reach FIU administration through the Panthers media relations department were unsuccessful.
Davis is 24-30 in nearly five full seasons at FIU.
His tenure was historic in many ways. He set the school single-season record with nine wins in 2018. His 2019 team beat the Miami Hurricanes — another first for the program. And he led the Panthers to a program-record three straight bowl appearances.
FIU SOCCER GETS BYE
The Panthers’ men’s soccer team (12-3-2) officially made the NCAA tournament on Monday afternoon.
FIU, seeded 13th out of 48 teams, was given a first-round bye. Thus, the Panthers, by the this weekend, will be one of 32 teams still alive.
The Panthers’ first game in the tournament will be at home Thursday against either Wake Forest (11-6-1) or Mercer (10-7-1).
Wake Forest, which has made 11 consecutive NCAA tournaments, will host Mercer on Thursday night.
FIU will watch that game on live stream for scouting purposes.
“Mercer is athletic and direct,” FIU coach Kyle Russell said. “Wake is technical and possession-based, and it will be interesting to see which style will prevail.
“But our boys are undefeated at home [7-0-0]. They are extremely excited. They are honored by their seeding.”
FIU is the only men’s soccer team in Florida to make the NCAA field.
This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 3:25 PM.