Florida International: a football coaching history
See Florida International’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Stature and coaches, 2005–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
2022–2024
Mike MacIntyre Steady
Mike MacIntyre slid Florida International from Regional Program IV to Regional Program V in 3 seasons.
2022 offense ranked in the 4th percentile nationally — historically bad
−2.0 pts over 3 seasons · top 44% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Dennis Erickson’s Arizona State run (2007–2011)
4th-best Florida International tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Butch Davis (2017–2021) · succeeded by Willie Simmons (2025–now).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 4-8 | 4-8 | 4-8 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | #94 | #109 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 56.8 | 50.2 | 45.8 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | David Yost | David Yost | David Yost | |
| DC | Jovan Dewitt | Jovan Dewitt | Jovan Dewitt | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 4 | 9 | 44 | |
| Defense | 13 | 36 | 77 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 57.4 | 51.6 | 42.3 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 52.1 | 39.5 | 36.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 60.0 | 54.5 | 43.3 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
-23.5 pts
#184 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
-1.6 pts
#115 of 208 · middle half
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Portal arrivals
29
2.9★ avg rating
Portal departures
52
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-23
#128 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Brings in smaller-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 225 lbs
across 24 of 29 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
-1.3 lbs
#243 of 255 · bottom quarter
Avg. class year
Jr
#5 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: FL (12), TN (3), NC (2), GA (1), LA (1)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
48.6
position-weighted
Talent lost
55.0
position-weighted
Net
-6.4
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Gunnar Holmberg (QB) from Duke
Biggest loss: Isaiah Velez (QB) to the portal
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
206 lbs
6′2″ avg · #563 of 767 · middle half
Running back
207 lbs
5′11″ avg · #406 of 791 · middle half
Wide receiver
188 lbs
6′0″ avg · #622 of 791 · bottom quarter
Tight end
242 lbs
6′4″ avg · #496 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
305 lbs
6′4″ avg · #533 of 779 · middle half
D-line
264 lbs
6′3″ avg · #724 of 753 · bottom quarter
Linebacker
223 lbs
6′1″ avg · #639 of 772 · bottom quarter
Cornerback
187 lbs
6′0″ avg · #541 of 771 · middle half
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Buys Athlete via the portal
50%
#4 of 146 stints
Buys Linebacker via the portal
80%
#7 of 225 stints
Grows Quarterback from high school
75%
#164 of 206 stints
Grows Safety from high school
75%
#165 of 218 stints
−2.0
12-24
2017–2021
Butch Davis Steady
Butch Davis moved the Panthers from Regional Program IV to Regional Program III in 5 seasons.
2021 defense ranked in the 3th percentile nationally — historically bad
+1.4 pts over 5 seasons · top 27% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Lance Taylor’s Western Michigan run (2023–now)
1st-best Florida International tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Ron Turner (2013–2016) · succeeded by Mike MacIntyre (2022–2024).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||
| Record | 8-5 | 9-4 | 6-7 | 0-5 | 1-11 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #83 | #69 | #88 | #74 | #83 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||
| Pass rate | 44.4 | 44.3 | 44.4 | 41.9 | 50.5 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||
| OC | Rich Skrosky | Rich Skrosky | Rich Skrosky | Rich Skrosky | Andrew Breiner | |
| DC | Brent Guy | Brent Guy | Jerod Kruse / Jeff Copp | Jerod Kruse / Jeff Copp | Everett Withers | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||
| Offense | 62 | 93 | 47 | 6 | 28 | |
| Defense | 10 | 31 | 51 | 60 | 3 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 40.5 | 37.9 | 38.6 | 37.9 | 41.2 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 40.2 | 28.8 | 39.2 | 45.0 | 46.9 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 24.3 | 40.5 | 31.8 | 30.0 | 12.1 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and underperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
+1.0 pts
#107 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
-15.3 pts
#167 of 208 · bottom quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Rich Skrosky → Andrew Breiner · 2021
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 37.9% → 41.2% (+3.4 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 160% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Brent Guy → Jerod Kruse (co) / Jeff Copp (co) · 2019The defense improved
2-season window either side.
DC: Jerod Kruse (co) / Jeff Copp (co) → Everett Withers · 2021
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
204 lbs
6′3″ avg · #617 of 767 · bottom quarter
Running back
214 lbs
5′11″ avg · #141 of 791 · top quarter
Wide receiver
190 lbs
6′0″ avg · #542 of 791 · middle half
Tight end
245 lbs
6′5″ avg · #383 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
308 lbs
6′4″ avg · #455 of 779 · middle half
D-line
265 lbs
6′4″ avg · #712 of 753 · bottom quarter
Linebacker
220 lbs
6′2″ avg · #708 of 772 · bottom quarter
Cornerback
183 lbs
6′1″ avg · #685 of 771 · bottom quarter
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2017: Lost to Temple 3-28 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl2018: Beat Toledo 35-32 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl2019: Lost to Arkansas State 26-34 Camellia Bowl
3 NFL Draft picks: Alex Mcgough (2018), James Morgan (2020), Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (2020)
+1.4
24-32
2013–2016
Ron Turner Steady
Ron Turner held the Panthers at Regional Program IV for 4 seasons.
2013 offense ranked in the 1th percentile nationally — historically bad
−2.5 pts over 4 seasons · top 47% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Paul Pasqualoni’s UConn run (2011–2013)
3rd-best Florida International tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Mario Cristobal (2007–2012) · succeeded by Butch Davis (2017–2021).
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 1-11 | 4-8 | 5-7 | 0-4 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #113 | #108 | #100 | #104 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 39.7 | 39.9 | 53.3 | 49.0 | |
| Coordinators | |||||
| OC | — | Steve Shankweiler | Steve Shankweiler | Steve Shankweiler | |
| DC | — | Josh Conklin | Matt House | Ron Cooper | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 1 | 10 | 26 | 22 | |
| Defense | 31 | 84 | 37 | 23 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 43.3 | 33.7 | 59.1 | 41.5 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 31.2 | 31.7 | 41.7 | 39.8 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 47.2 | 18.2 | 42.4 | 40.0 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
-14.7 pts
#162 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
-10.1 pts
#152 of 208 · middle half
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
DC: Josh Conklin → Matt House · 2015
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
DC: Matt House → Ron Cooper · 2016
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
1 NFL Draft pick: Jonnu Smith (2017)
−2.5
10-30
2007–2012
Mario Cristobal Steady
Mario Cristobal held the Panthers at Regional Program IV for 6 seasons.
2007 offense ranked in the 2th percentile nationally — historically bad
−1.7 pts over 6 seasons · bottom 37% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Brent Brennan’s San José State run (2017–2023)
2nd-best Florida International tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Don Strock (2004–2006) · succeeded by Ron Turner (2013–2016).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 1-11 | 5-7 | 3-9 | 7-6 | 8-5 | 3-9 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | W bowl | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #98 | #84 | #77 | #82 | #92 | #79 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | 44.7 | 45.5 | 50.6 | 42.4 | 45.7 | 43.0 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | 2 | 35 | 15 | 50 | 30 | 57 | |
| Defense | 12 | 70 | 25 | 68 | 79 | 69 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 35.0 | 51.0 | 40.9 | 31.4 | 34.5 | 39.9 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 58.6 | 35.0 | 45.2 | 24.3 | 33.7 | 25.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 42.9 | 22.7 | 45.2 | 29.7 | 25.0 | 36.7 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2010: Beat Toledo 34-32 Little Caesars Bowl2011: Lost to Marshall 10-20 Beef 'o' Brady's Bowl St. Petersburg
4 NFL Draft picks: Anthony Gaitor (2011), T.Y. Hilton (2012), Johnathan Cyprien (2013), Tourek Williams (2013)
−1.7
27-47
2004–2006
Don Strock Short tenure
No outlier style signal this stint
8-25