Story courtesy of Ball State Athletic Communications
MUNCIE, Ind. – Recognized as one of the nation's top assistant basketball coaches with a proven track record in recruiting and player development, Chris Capko has been named Ball State University's 21st head men's basketball coach.
Currently the associate head coach with Southern Methodist University and active this week with the Mustangs in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, Capko has spent the past 10 seasons under coach Andy Enfield at both SMU and USC. SMU was lauded this past year for landing the nation's fourth-ranked recruiting class, and with that class the Mustangs reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017, their first at-large bid since 1993.
Capko, who has helped develop 11 NBA players across stops at Marshall, Stetson, Georgia Southern, USC, Florida International and SMU, will begin his duties at Ball State immediately.
"Chris Capko is an exceptional basketball coach," said Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell. "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."
"We are excited to welcome Chris Capko and his family to our Ball State community," said Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns. "His strong character, values-driven leadership, and commitment to student-athlete success make him the right choice to lead our program."
Capko was named one of the top "Power 5 assistants" in the country by The Athletic and one of the 50 Most Impactful high major assistant coaches by Silver Waves Media in both the 2023-24 season and 2024-25 seasons. He was invited to participate in the 2023 NCAA Champion Forum for Men's Basketball at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis, and was invited to the prestigious Athletic Director U's Collegiate Coaching Consortium at the 2022 NCAA Final Four in New Orleans.
"This is a truly special opportunity, and I'm incredibly honored to be the 21st coach to lead the Ball State men's basketball program," said Capko. "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. 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."
"Coach Capko demonstrates an infectious energy and enthusiasm that will invigorate our program," added Mitchell. "He will quickly connect with players and strengthen ties with our campus and community, helping build a competitive culture and a program everyone can rally behind."
He helped SMU to a 44-25 record over two seasons, and a 176-93 mark over eight years as an assistant or associate head coach at USC. He spent the past decade as an assistant or associate under Enfield, where the duo helped guide eight USC players who were selected over seven NBA drafts from 2018-24, the most by any school during that stretch behind Duke (20), Kentucky (19), Kansas (9) and Michigan (9). The Trojans signed five McDonald's All-Americans and joined Duke and Kentucky as one of just three programs to boast at least one player selected in six of seven NBA Drafts from 2018-24.
In his first season at SMU, Capko helped the Mustangs to a 24-11 overall record and a No.1 seed in the NIT. The Mustangs went 13-7 in the program's inaugural season in the ACC to tie for fourth and owned distinction as one of just two teams in the nation with six players averaging at least 9.9 points per game. SMU was one of just eight teams in the NCAA top 50 for field goal percentage on both offense and defense.
At USC, the Enfield-Capko partnership led the Trojans during an eight-year stretch that included an Elite Eight trip in 2021. After five years as Enfield's assistant at USC (2017-21), he was elevated to associate head coach prior to the 2021-22 campaign, helping the Trojans navigate four straight top-three Pac-12 finishes from 2020 through 2023. Overall, he helped the Trojans bring in eight consecutive top 30 recruiting classes and played a critical role in recruiting the No. 1 player in the country, Isaiah Collier, in 2024. The 2022 class ranked No. 7 nationally and the 2023 class ranked No. 4.
Capko has climbed the coaching ladder with 19 years of experience, and his influence extends beyond NBA draft picks with power programs.
Dating to his days as a grad assistant at Marshall, Capko has assisted in day-to-day operations, monitored academic progress, weight training, conditioning and film exchange – in addition to work in the recruiting process.
Prior to his hiring as assistant coach at USC in April 2016, he was the Trojans' director of operations during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He spent 2015-16 as an assistant coach at Florida International before returning to Enfield's coaching staff for 2016-17.
He spent two seasons as an assistant coach at both Georgia Southern (2012 and 2013) and Stetson (2010 and 2011), following two years in his graduate role at Marshall (2008 and 2009).
As a player, Capko spent his first semester in the basketball program at the University of Florida under Billy Donovan. He later transferred to South Florida (USF) in Tampa where he played for three years. As a junior he was fifth in the Big East in assists and as a senior he was the Bulls' team captain.
Capko earned Academic All-Big East honors as a junior and senior at USF. He was also the Bulls' nominee for Big East Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year in 2007. Capko earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications at USF in December 2006 and a master's degree in adult and technical education from Marshall in 2009.
A native of Lakeland, Fla., Capko was a starter for Kathleen High School when the Red Devils won the 2001 Florida 4A state championship. He and his wife Miranda have three children: Zoe (4), Asa (1) and newborn Benny (March 2026).
