Mike Balado, named Miami Dade College’s athletics director on August 10, 2023, has accomplished a great deal over the past quarter-century.

As a University of Louisville men's basketball assistant, working for four years under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, Balado helped develop several NBA players, including league superstar Donovan Mitchell as well as 2015 first-round pick Terry Rozier, 2020 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell and 2022 NBA champion Damion Lee. 

During those four years, the Cardinals made the NCAA Tournament three times.

As Arkansas State’s head coach in 2021-2022, Balado led the Red Wolves to an 18-11 record. That was the most Arkansas State wins in five years. It was also the Red Wolves’ fewest losses in nearly two decades -- since 2003-2004 to be exact.

And, in one year as an assistant coach at FIU, the Panthers went 18-14 – their most wins in 15 years.

Balado also served as an assistant coach or graduate assistant at three other NCAA Division I universities – Miami, Florida Atlantic and High Point. He was an assistant coach at a pair of NCAA Division II programs, Nova Southeastern and Augusta; and at one junior college (MDC). He even coached at one high school (Miami Southridge).

That coaching versatility is a point of pride for Balado.

“Being able to coach at different levels has helped me understand that everything doesn’t work in one certain way,” Balado said. “You have to learn to adjust to different situations.”

Although this is Balado’s first foray into the world of running an entire athletics department, he believes his previous experience has prepared him for this role.

“Everywhere I’ve gone, there has always been administrative work,” Balado said. “It’s not like it’s anything new. Instead of managing players, now you’re managing coaches.”

Balado, a native of Miami who is also fluent in Spanish, had a successful college career as a basketball player. He was a two-year starter at the NAIA level for Miami’s St. Thomas University. As a team captain, he led the Bobcats to a regular-season conference title.

At St. Thomas, Balado earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. From there, Balado went to the state of Georgia, where he earned his Master’s degree in Education in Exercise and Sport Science at Augusta University.

It was at Augusta where Balado started his coaching career, spending the 1998-1999 season as a graduate assistant. He was a full-fledged assistant coach the next year.

After the two years at Southridge High and one season at Nova Southeastern University, Balado started his first successful stint at MDC. In fact, in 2004-2005, Balado helped the Sharks produce a program-best 27-5 record. Balado recruited the team’s top four stars, including the Southern Conference’s Player of the Year.

From there, Balado spent three years at Florida Atlantic University, helping the Owls go 46-46 overall and 32-24 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

At the University of Miami, as an assistant under Frank Haith, Balado helped the Hurricanes to a 19-13 record and a berth in the second round of the NIT Tournament. One of the players on that Canes basketball team was Jimmy Graham, who went on to become an NFL star as a tight end. 

After three seasons at High Point in North Carolina and one back home in Miami at FIU, Balado left for his great adventure at Louisville. During those four years, the Cardinals won 76.8 percent of their games, going 106-32.

In 2014, Balado helped Louisville reach the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. The next year, Balado helped the Cardinals reach the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.

“Working for Pitino was one of the best experiences anybody could ask for,” Balado said. “I learned how to run a team and a program. I was lucky to be there four years, learning from him directly.

“The year we made it to the Elite Eight was amazing – no sleep but a lot of fun. It was a great feeling of accomplishment because every win got us closer to our goal of a national championship.”

During his time at Louisville, Balado spent the summer of 2015 as assistant coach for Puerto Rico’s national team. Pitino was the head coach as Puerto Rico competed in the Pan American Games and also the FIBA Americas Championship.

Among the players on that Puerto Rican team: former Miami Christian star Jose Juan Barea, who spent 11 years in the NBA as a feisty point guard who in 2011 won a league championship with the Dallas Mavericks.

“Helping coach the Puerto Rican team was amazing,” Balado said. “It was great coaching older pros and building relationships with people in Puerto Rico, getting to know the culture.

“I also had some great dinners with Barea, talking basketball.”

Balado got his first shot at becoming a head coach on March 20, 2017, when he was hired by Arkansas State. 

During his six years with the Red Wolves, there were many highlights for Balado, who recruited and helped develop Norchad Omier, who in 2022 became the Sun Belt Conference’s Player of the Year. He was also the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, becoming just the second Arkansas State athlete ever to win both awards in the same season.

After that season, Omier transferred to the University of Miami, and he remains close to Balado.

“I love Norchad like my own son,” Balado said. “He is one of the best players in Sun Belt history, and I believe he will play in the NBA.”

Balado’s latest challenge is taking over the athletic program at MDC, one of the largest junior colleges in the nation.

MDC has five established sports programs: baseball, which has been known for decades as a steady pipeline for players going on to the major leagues; women’s volleyball, which has won 10 national titles and has made it to the national tournament 21 times over the past 23 years; men’s basketball; women’s basketball; and softball.

Balado’s first big task was hiring a baseball coach, and he accomplished that goal by bringing in former MLB scout Lazaro Llanes.

In addition, Balado is searching for coaches for men’s and women’s soccer. Starting with the fall of 2024, men’s soccer is coming back to MDC after a 30-plus-years hiatus. Women’s soccer, meanwhile, will be making its MDC debut.

“This shows the vision of MDC president Madeline Pumariega and the rest of our administration,” Balado said of the addition of soccer. “South Florida is soccer-crazed, especially with Lionel Messi now playing for Inter Miami, and it’s great that we are adding this sport.”

 

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 THE MIKE BALADO FILE

 

COLLEGE

Bachelor’s degree: St. Thomas University (1998)

Master’s Degree: Augusta University (2000)

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

1998-1999: Augusta University as a graduate assistant

1999-2000: Augusta University (assistant coach)

2000-2002: Miami Southridge High School (assistant coach)

2002-2003: Nova Southeastern University (assistant coach)

2003-2005: Miami Dade College (assistant coach)

2005-2008: Florida Atlantic University (assistant coach)

2008-2009: University of Miami (graduate assistant)

2009-2012: High Point University (assistant coach)

2012-2013: Florida International University (assistant coach)

2013-2017: University of Louisville (assistant coach)

2017-2023: Arkansas State University (head coach)

2023-present: Miami Dade College (athletic director)

 

 

PERSONAL

Wife: Alicia

Children: Twins Aiden & Addy (born in June of 2009)