Florida International University parts ways with coach Mike MacIntyre after another losing season

In December 2024, Florida International University (FIU) announced that they had fired head football coach Mike MacIntyre after three seasons filled with disappointing performances. Initially hired to improve a struggling program that had just finished a winless season in 2020, MacIntyre's tenure did not yield the desired results, with each of the seasons concluding with an identical 4-8 record. Although the team managed to show some competitiveness in games, the overall lack of improvement, particularly in their Conference USA performance, ultimately led to the decision to replace him. During his time at FIU, he inherited a challenging situation that required significant rebuilding efforts. Despite inheriting a program that had seen no victories in the previous season, MacIntyre's record stood at 6 wins and 18 losses in conference games. His inability to lead FIU to a bowl game during his tenure was a key factor in his dismissal, as mentioned by the athletic director Scott Carr. Carr expressed that the decision was based on the on-field results, despite improvements in several non-competitive areas, such as team GPA and program operations. MacIntyre's previous accolades included being the Associated Press' national coach of the year in 2016 when he successfully turned around the Colorado football team. He had also led previous programs like San Jose State to success, but the same outcomes did not materialize at FIU. As the university begins the search for MacIntyre's successor, defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt has stepped in as the interim coach. This change comes amidst a broader context of coaching changes within Florida's FBS programs, as other schools like FAU and UCF are also seeking new leadership following recent transitions.