Ball State hires SMU associate Chris Capko as head coach

Ball State named SMU associate coach Chris Capko as its next head coach.

Capko, the top assistant to Andy Enfield with the Mustangs, replaces Michael Lewis, who was fired by the Cardinals on March 8 after three straight losing seasons.

Ball State finished with a 12-19 record (7-11 Mid-American Conference) and did not qualify for the conference tournament.

Capko, however, sees the Cardinals' job as a special opportunity.

"We will build this program on a foundation of character, toughness and accountability -- developing young men who represent this University the right way on and off the court," he said in a statement released by the school.

"I've been fortunate to be part of building winning programs in my previous tenures, and will bring that same level of discipline, drive and competitive edge to Muncie. Our vision is clear: build a program our community is proud of, and compete for championships."

Capko served as an assistant head coach at Southern California under Enfield starting in 2016 before joining him at SMU in 2024. He also was an assistant coach at Florida International (2015-16), Georgia Southern (2011-13) and Stetson (2009-11).

"Chris Capko is an exceptional basketball coach," Ball State athletic director Jeff Mitchell said. "His breadth of experience at the NCAA Division I level, combined with his elite recruiting acumen and expertise in player development, set him apart from an incredibly strong pool of candidates and made him the best coach to lead our program."

Lewis was 61-64 in four seasons with Ball State.