FIU to face off against UM again

FIU’s Sept. 15 football game against the University of Miami has been set for 3:30 p.m. at the Orange Bowl in Miami and will be televised nationally by ESPNU.

For season tickets and more information, call the FIU Ticket Office toll free at 1-866-FIU-GAME or 305-348-4263 in Miami-Dade County.

2007 Florida International Football Schedule

An * designates Sun Belt Conference games. Home games are marked bold. All home games are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. at the Orange Bowl. All dates and times are scheduled to change.

All-American Golden Panther breaks school record at NCAA Outdoor Championships

Junior Naim Yisrael broke the school record in the 400 meter hurdles for the sixth time this season, finishing in 56.98 seconds, to place sixth in the June 9 finals at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif.

Yisrael already had garnered All-American honors by making it to the final race, thus guaranteeing at least a top eight finish. She came in 14th out of 27 competitors in the preliminary round on Thursday, with a time of 58.12, and followed that by finishing eighth in Friday’s semifinals after crossing the line in 57.26.

She saved her best for last with her sixth record-breaking performance of the season in Saturday’s finals. By breaking the 57-second barrier, she bested her previous record of 57.14 seconds, which was set two weeks ago at the NCAA East Regional in Gainesville.

Yisrael was the only Golden Panther to score in an event at nationals, picking up three points. Juniors India George and Joeane Jadotte also competed in the NCAA Championships in the long jump and discus, respectively.

“Turtle” Thomas named baseball head coach

Regarded as one of the top assistant coaches and recruiters in college baseball, Henry “Turtle” Thomas has been named the Golden Panthers’ new head baseball coach. He replaces former head coach Danny Price, who left the program after 28 years at the helm of FIU baseball.

“I want to thank Danny Price for his lifelong contributions to FIU baseball,” said Athletic Director Pete Garcia. “This is a program he has built and sacrificed for, for nearly 35 years. I wish him the best. [But] it is time to take FIU baseball to a new level.”

Thomas brings more than 30 years of experience, including 14 trips to the College World Series (CWS) and 18 straight Top 10 baseball recruiting classes, to the FIU program.

“After 30 years of coaching college baseball, I’m very excited to lead the FIU baseball program,” he said. “I’m very appreciative of President [Modesto A.] Maidique and [Athletic Director] Pete Garcia, that those two gentlemen have given me this opportunity. We look forward to making the FIU community excited about baseball again and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

The new coach’s résumé includes some of the most-successful programs in college baseball’s recent history, such as, Georgia Tech, Louisiana State, Miami and his most recent stop, 2007 College World Series participant, Arizona State.

Thomas began his Division I coaching career at Clemson, where he spent eight seasons and helped the Tigers reach the 1980 CWS. He moved on to Georgia Tech and spent two years as the assistant head coach under current Miami head coach Jim Morris.

In 1988, he was named assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Miami by Hall of Fame coach Ron Fraser. The Hurricanes reached the CWS nine times in Thomas’ 12 years in Coral Gables, winning a National Championship in 1999 and going to Omaha six straight seasons (1994-‘99).

He won a second national title his first season with LSU, in 2000. The 2000 title was one of three trips to the CWS that Thomas made in his seven seasons in Baton Rouge.

He has had 18 straight recruiting classes ranked among Collegiate Baseball's Top 10 at Miami and LSU. He is the only recruiting coordinator in the nation who has signed the No. 1-rated class four times and he has never had a class rated lower than ninth over the past 19 years.

The roll call of major leaguers Thomas recruited and coached numbers more than 60. The list includes Charles Johnson, Alex Fernandez, Pat Burrell, Danny Graves, Alex Cora, Aubrey Huff and Brad Hawpe.

For more information on Thomas, click here.

Munga Eketebi named men's soccer head coach

Athletic Director Pete Garcia promoted from within by announcing the appointment of Munga Eketebi as the Golden Panthers’ new men’s soccer head coach. Eketebi becomes the fourth head coach in the 35-year history of the program and replaces retiring Karl Kremser.

“I can never thank Coach Kremser enough for everything he’s done for me,” Eketebi said. “It's always tough to come in and follow someone like that. His accomplishments at FIU speak for themselves and he definitely left big shoes to fill, but I am looking forward to this opportunity.”

No stranger to FIU soccer, Eketebi has been an imposing figure on the FIU men’s soccer sideline for nearly 25 years. After a four-year playing career with the Golden Panthers from 1983-‘86, he has worked on the FIU coaching staff nearly ever since.

“Coach Eketebi is a well-respected member of the soccer community and he is deserving of this chance to lead our program,” Garcia said. “We are excited about the future of men’s soccer at FIU.”

A prolific scorer as a collegian, Eketebi’s 50 career goals remain tied for the most in program history. Additionally, his 124 career points rank second and his 24 assists tie him for fifth among FIU's all-time scoring leaders. He was a key member of the 1984 Division II National Championship squad and the ‘85 runner-up team, with six playoff goals, including four in an NCAA Tournament victory over Lock Haven (Pa.) in ‘84.

For more information on Eketebi, click here.