New Basketball Coach a Familiar Face

Sergio Rouco

FIU Director of Athletics Rick Mello announced that former Golden Panthers assistant Sergio Rouco has accepted the position of head coach for the men’s basketball program. This will be the third stint at FIU for Rouco, who left the University last spring to become an assistant at the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP). Rouco, 43, was an assistant under Golden Panther head coaches Rich Walker and Bob Weltlich from 1987-91 and for Donnie Marsh from 2000-03.

“I have always felt that the key to our success was to be able to connect with the community and the talent here in South Florida, and I think Sergio is the person to do just that,” Mello said.

Rouco has a strong reputation as a recruiter both nationally and internationally and was given much credit in helping turn around UTEP, which won 24 games in 2003-04 before losing to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last month. Rouco got his start coaching on the high school level in Miami, including Loyola High School, where he directed the Bulldogs to a school-record 22 victories, and Norland Senior High, where he lead the Vikings to 29 wins and a Class 6A No. 1 state ranking for part of the 1994-95 season.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to come home,” said Rouco, who was born in Cuba and moved to Miami at age three. “Becoming the head coach at FIU has always been a dream of mine and it’s an opportunity I feel fortunate to have been offered.”