Dear Mr. Craig Angelos, Moving forward, Florida Atlantic University needs stability. Undeniably, Florida Atlantic has seen its most success in softball, baseball and football - all of which are coached by long-time, dedicated Owls with no agenda other than to see success on the field AT Florida Atlantic University. The man for this job already is employed by Florida Atlantic University. Assistant Coach Mike Balado is the ONLY man who can successfully transition Florida Atlantic basketball to the next level with the respect and trust of our current basketball student-athletes in the short-term AND ensure long-term stability for the program. Mr. Angelos, we need an Owl as the next head coach of Florida Atlantic basketball. Not a \"name.\" Not a \"splash.\" Not a \"big fish.\" To borrow the words of the legendary Bo Schembechler: \"A Michigan man is going to coach Michigan.\" Mr. Angelos: We need a Florida Atlantic man to coach Florida Atlantic! Assistant Coach Balado has been instrumental in bringing the success of the past three years to FAU basketball. As an assistant to Coach Doherty and Coach Walters, Coach Balado has been at the forefront of recruiting most of the top athletes who have worn an Owls uniform the past three seasons. Working inside the program for the past two seasons, I have the privilege of not only working with Coach Balado, but also seeing the relationship he has with the players, fellow assistants and support staff. Coach Mike Balado is an unbelievable class act, who demands respect as a leader and shows compassion as a person. Florida Atlantic University needs a man who is committed to BUILDING and PATIENCE. Florida Atlantic needs a man who understands the intricacies of the NCAA and mid-major status. After limited success with Coach Green, your department took a big gamble with a former National Coach of the Year in Matt Doherty. While his name has unbelievable attraction, his commitment to OUR program was a fraud and we saw that when he jumped ship. It would be disingenuous to ignore the success of Rex Walters the past two seasons. As his first-ever chance at leading a Division I program, he had the unenviable task of simultaneously leading a program from a \"low-major\" to a \"mid-major\" conference - jumping 15 spots in conference RPI rankings! He averaged 9 wins in his two seasons here and that is certainly a definition of \"success.\" However, his \"name appeal\" as a former All-American and stand-out leader in college led to schools actively seeking him to jump. Mr. Angelos: PLEASE, NO MORE STEEPING STONES! No more \"big names\" to bring an immediate bump to the program, while sacrificing the future! We need a native South Floridian. We need a man who is a part of the Florida Atlantic staff and, more important, family. We need a man who has been a part of the Doherty-Walters pedigree and has been a part of the the past three seasons of success. At this time in FAU basketball history, there is so much at stake. Coach Balado is a man who can solve ALL of our problems and needs. A Balado hiring allows our student-athletes continuity and similarity. It also presents the best choice possible to give FAU a chance to continue its success on the court. Most importantly, it does not represent a \"splash\" that fans will look at as another stepping stone. Fans know Coach Mike Balado. Fans trust Mike Balado. We support Mike Balado! Please... no anonymous signatures!!

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