Mike Forsythe was named pitching coach in July 2023 and is a collegiate coaching veteran who boasts 21 years of previous experience at the NCAA Division I level.

“I am very excited that Mike is joining our coaching staff,” Larabee said. “He is a tireless  worker and has shown over his 20-plus years at the D-1 level that he can develop pitchers at a very high level.  He has a proven track record wherever he has worked and is very familiar with Conference USA. Our pitchers are going to love his energy, enthusiasm and his expertise.”

He has most recently served as a pitching/assistant coach at Southeast Missouri, New Mexico, Maryland, Louisiana Tech with prior stints at Northern Colorado, Fordham, Quinnipiac and Southern Connecticut State.

“I want to thank FIU Athletics Director Scott Carr, SWA Julie Berg and Coach Larabee for this wonderful opportunity to be a part of the FIU softball family,” Forsythe said.  “I have fond memories of prior my years in Conference USA and the hard-fought battles against FIU, who were always one of the best in the conference.  Coach Larabee is one of the best coaches in the country.  I have known him for many years now and had the opportunity to coach with him at the University of Maryland.  I know Coach Larabee will lead this program to the top of Conference USA.”

During his most recent stop at Southeast Missouri, Forsythe helped dropped the team’s earned run average by nearly one and a half runs from 3.52 to 2.13 and dropped opponent’s batting average from .264 to .204.  The Redhawks finished the season ranked as the No. 1 ranked pitching staff in the Ohio Valley Conference.

While at Maryland, the pitching staff dropped its team ERA from 5.84 to 3.10 and had three pitchers with under a 3.00 mark. The pitching staff lowered its opponent batting average from .356 to .249 helping the Terrapins win 19 Big Ten games in 2021, most since joining the conference.

During his time at Louisiana Tech, Forsythe played a big part in helping three Lady Techster pitchers earn First-Team All-Conference USA honors. One of those pitchers, Krystal De La Cruz, was also named C-USA Newcomer of the Year in 2017, while another, Preslee Gallaway, was tabbed C-USA Pitcher of the Year in 2018.

Additionally, the Louisiana Tech pitching staff tossed 18 shutouts during the 2017 campaign.  La Tech played 11 games against Power 5 teams, combining for a 2.48 ERA. The pitching staff held seven Top-25 team to two runs or less during the 2018 season.

Forsythe has had success at every stop, making immediate impacts. His resume also includes coaching a USA Softball 2010 Top 10 Player of the Year finalist in Jen Mineau (Fordham) and being tabbed as a member of the 2010 NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

Forsythe also brings experience beyond the collegiate game having served on the pitching staff with the Akron Racers Women’s National Pro Fastpitch League.