On April 15 , 2012 , Richard Pitino left his position as the associate head coach at the University of Louisville to become the head coach at FIU . With only six players remaining from the previous season , and not all of them on scholarship , Pitino cobbled together a team and coached a high-pressure defense that finished eighth in the nation in steals . He was able to compile an 18-14 record ( 11-9 in the Sun Belt conference ) in his only season as head coach . His FIU team set a record for the best conference record in school history . Additionally , FIU reached the Sun Belt Tournament Championship game as a four seed , before falling to Western Kentucky , 65-63
Sun Belt Tournament
2013 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
FIU Panthers men's basketball