Chris Capko

Biography

Recognized as one of the nation's top assistant basketball coaches with a proven track record in recruiting and player development, Chris Capko was named Ball State University's 21st head men's basketball coach on March 20, 2026. Previously 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 wa