Mike Larabee Stepping Away as FIU Head Coach for 2025 Season

Florida International head coach Mike Larabee is temporarily stepping away from the program following a medical diagnosis.

Larabee has been diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a rare and chronic blood cancer, the school announced on Saturday. He will undergo a bone marrow transplant while he is away from the program, an absence that is expected to extend through the entire 2025 season.

“FIU softball is in great hands with Mike Meyers at the helm,” Larabee said in a statement. “We have coached together for 14 years, and no one knows our system better than him. He also has a trio of wonderful assistants in Danielle Cassara, Amelia Varela and Kevin Shafer, who I have no doubt will continue to guide and mentor our young women. My goal is to get back healthy and return for the fall 2025 season.”

“The entire FIU Athletic Department is behind Coach Larabee, and he will have our full support as he focuses on his health. We are optimistic that he will win this battle, and we will be behind him every step of the way,” FIU athletic director Scott Carr said.

Associate head coach Mike Meyers will assume the role of interim head coach of the program, effective immediately. He is in his 4th season with the Panthers’ program and previously served on Larabee’s staff at Central Washington and at the high school level in Washington state.