March 29, 200422 yr Article FIU Names Sergio Rouco its Men?s Basketball Head Coach Florida International University Director of Athletics Rick Mello today announced that former Golden Panthers and Texas-El Paso 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 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. Rouco has a strong reputation as a recruiter both nationally and internationally and was given much credit in helping turn around a UTEP program, which won 24 games in 2003-04 before losing to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month. ?This is a special and momentous day for FIU,? said Mello. ?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. He has worked very hard and has paid his dues for this opportunity and there is no question that he will give everything he has with regards to leadership, dedication, passion and energy to take FIU to the next level.? Rouco got his start coaching on the high school level in Miami. In 1986, he was the head coach at Loyola High School where he directed the Bulldogs to a school-record 22 victories. From 1991-95, he was the head coach at Norland Senior High, leading the Vikings to 29 wins as well as a Class 6A No. 1 state ranking for a portion of the 1994-95 season. Rouco was also the head coach for Club Mauricio Baez (1995) and Club Los Minas (1996) in the Dominican Republic Professional League, helping both squads reach the semifinals of the playoffs. In 1996-97, he was the head coach of Club Trotamundos de Carabobo in Venezuela. Prior to his second stint at FIU, Rouco spent three years as an associate director at the Boys & Girls Club of Miami where his duties included supervising athletic programs, 30 employees and 8,000 children, as well as spearheading fund-raising efforts and budgeting of the payroll. Rouco will become the fifth head coach in the 23-year history of the FIU men?s basketball program following Walker (1981-90), Weltlich (1990-95), Shakey Rodriguez (1995-2000) and Marsh (2000-04). ?It?s an unbelievable feeling, to come home,? said Rouco. ?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. "My goal is to make FIU basketball a proud part of this community. I want to bring back our alumni. I want our faculty and staff to have a place to come and bring their families and friends. I think we?ll be on the right track, soon," Rouco said. Born in Cuba, Rouco moved to Miami with his family at age three and went on to attend Miami High School, Miami-Dade Wolfson and Nova Southeastern, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1987. He and his wife Kelly have a son, Sergio, Jr., who is three-years old.
March 30, 200422 yr Hope this turns things around for FIU basketball. Both schools in South Florida need a kick in the a$$ in basketball.
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