Ball State Fires Basketball Coach After 4 Seasons

Michael Lewis let go following three straight losing campaigns

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ball State University has fired men's basketball coach Michael Lewis after four seasons, the school announced on Saturday. Lewis compiled a 61-64 record during his tenure, with his only winning season coming in his first year in 2022-23 when the Cardinals finished 20-12. The team struggled in the following three seasons, finishing 12-19 this past year and missing the Mid-American Conference tournament.

Why it matters

Ball State is looking to revitalize its men's basketball program after several down years. The firing of Lewis signals the university's desire to find a new coach who can turn the team around and lead them back to the MAC tournament and potentially the NCAA tournament.

The details

Lewis was hired as Ball State's head coach in March 2022 after serving as an assistant coach for 18 seasons at schools like UCLA, Nebraska, and Butler. As a player, he was the Indiana high school Gatorade Player of the Year before going on to play at Indiana University under legendary coach Bob Knight. In his four seasons at Ball State, Lewis compiled a 61-64 overall record, including a 20-12 mark in his first year. However, the team struggled in the following three seasons, finishing 12-19 this past year and failing to qualify for the MAC tournament.

  • Ball State fired Michael Lewis on March 8, 2026.
  • The Cardinals finished the 2025-26 regular season on March 6, 2026 with an 85-69 win over Central Michigan.

The players

Michael Lewis

The former head coach of the Ball State men's basketball team, who was fired after four seasons with a 61-64 overall record.

Jeff Mitchell

The athletic director at Ball State University who announced the firing of Michael Lewis.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We are grateful to Coach Lewis for the passion and commitment he brought to our program the past four years. We appreciate the time and effort he invested in our student-athletes.”

— Jeff Mitchell, Ball State Athletic Director (statenews.net)

What’s next

Ball State will now begin a search for a new head coach to lead the men's basketball program.

The takeaway

The firing of Michael Lewis after four seasons as Ball State's head coach underscores the university's desire to revitalize its struggling men's basketball program and find a new leader who can guide the team back to success in the Mid-American Conference.