Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Announce Staff Promotions Ahead of 2026-27 Season
September 01, 2026 | Women's Basketball
DeRoo promoted to General Manager; Villarreal elevated to Assistant Athletic Director for Basketball Operations
LUBBOCK, Texas – Head coach Krista Gerlich announced staff changes for the 2026-27 season on Tuesday morning, promoting Ashlee Villarreal to Assistant Athletic Director for Basketball Operations and elevating Erik DeRoo to General Manager in addition to his duties as Associate Coach.
Both promotions come on the heels of a historic 2025-26 season for the Lady Raiders, with Tech finishing with a 26-8 overall record and a 12-6 mark in Big 12 play, far exceeding preseason expectations after being picked 13th in the conference's preseason poll and ultimately tying for fourth. The finish marked the program's highest conference finish since 2012-13, while its 26 overall wins were the most since 2002-03 and its 12 Big 12 victories were the most since the 2004-05 season.
DeRoo enters his sixth season with the Lady Raiders after originally joining the program in 2021 as the Director of Player Development. He served as an assistant coach from 2023-25 before being promoted to Associate Coach ahead of the 2025-26 season, helping guide Texas Tech through one of the most successful seasons for the program in the last decade.
Beyond its conference success, and with DeRoo's help, Texas Tech opened the season with a program-record 19-0 start and earned its first national ranking since January 2012, spending 12 consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25. The 19-game winning streak matched the longest single-season winning streak in program history, originally established during the 1992-93 national championship season.
In his expanded role as General Manager, DeRoo will lead the program's roster management strategy, overseeing roster construction, talent acquisition and scholarship allocation while working closely with Gerlich to help sustain her long-term vision for the program. DeRoo will also integrate analytics into personnel decisions, provide scouting and evaluation insights, track emerging trends and help identify strategic opportunities that position the Lady Raiders for prolonged success. Additionally, he will collaborate on long-range program planning and market analysis while helping guide the program's approach to an evolving collegiate athletics landscape.
"Erik has been an invaluable part of our program, and adding the role of General Manager reflects the trust we have in his leadership, vision and ability to help us build a championship-caliber roster," said Gerlich when asked about DeRoo's promotion. "His experience, relationships and understanding of today's college basketball landscape make him the ideal person to lead our roster-management efforts while continuing to serve as an outstanding associate coach. We're excited for Erik to take on this expanded role and for the continued impact he will have on Texas Tech Women's Basketball."
Villarreal, meanwhile, enters her second season with the Lady Raiders after making an immediate impact as the program's Director of Operations during the 2025-26 campaign. In that role, she oversaw the program's day-to-day logistical operations, including team travel, lodging, meals, staff and team calendars, budgets, equipment, fundraising initiatives and event planning.
Villarreal also coordinates summer camps, assists with game day and special event operations and works to streamline team schedules and processes to maximize efficiency. Throughout the past year, she expanded her responsibilities within the program by taking on a larger role in the program's 3-Point Club initiatives, donor relations, scheduling, fundraising efforts and management of Gerlich's public relations calendar.
As Assistant Athletic Director for Basketball Operations, Villarreal will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Lady Raider Basketball program while expanding her role in strategic planning, resource management and external engagement. She will serve as a key liaison between the program and donors, alumni and athletic department leadership, while helping identify opportunities to enhance the program's competitive position. Villarreal will also direct and manage the Lady Raiders' 3 Point Club fully, overseeing membership initiatives, events and benefit fulfillment, while continuing to support and help plan major operational projects and long-term program objectives.
"Ashlee has been instrumental to the success and day-to-day operation of our women's basketball program. Her professionalism, attention to detail and commitment to our student-athletes make her an exceptional leader within our staff," Gerlich commented as she reflected on Villarreal's first season with the staff. "Elevating her to Assistant Athletic Director of Basketball Operations recognizes the tremendous impact she has already made and the expanded role she will continue to play as we build a first-class championship program at Texas Tech."
Follow the Lady Raiders: Keep up with Texas Tech women's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Lady Raider season tickets are currently available for the 2026-27 season by visiting TexasTech.com/tickets. Or you can purchase single game tickets at TexasTech.com/WBBSINGLE
Both promotions come on the heels of a historic 2025-26 season for the Lady Raiders, with Tech finishing with a 26-8 overall record and a 12-6 mark in Big 12 play, far exceeding preseason expectations after being picked 13th in the conference's preseason poll and ultimately tying for fourth. The finish marked the program's highest conference finish since 2012-13, while its 26 overall wins were the most since 2002-03 and its 12 Big 12 victories were the most since the 2004-05 season.
DeRoo enters his sixth season with the Lady Raiders after originally joining the program in 2021 as the Director of Player Development. He served as an assistant coach from 2023-25 before being promoted to Associate Coach ahead of the 2025-26 season, helping guide Texas Tech through one of the most successful seasons for the program in the last decade.
Beyond its conference success, and with DeRoo's help, Texas Tech opened the season with a program-record 19-0 start and earned its first national ranking since January 2012, spending 12 consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25. The 19-game winning streak matched the longest single-season winning streak in program history, originally established during the 1992-93 national championship season.
In his expanded role as General Manager, DeRoo will lead the program's roster management strategy, overseeing roster construction, talent acquisition and scholarship allocation while working closely with Gerlich to help sustain her long-term vision for the program. DeRoo will also integrate analytics into personnel decisions, provide scouting and evaluation insights, track emerging trends and help identify strategic opportunities that position the Lady Raiders for prolonged success. Additionally, he will collaborate on long-range program planning and market analysis while helping guide the program's approach to an evolving collegiate athletics landscape.
"Erik has been an invaluable part of our program, and adding the role of General Manager reflects the trust we have in his leadership, vision and ability to help us build a championship-caliber roster," said Gerlich when asked about DeRoo's promotion. "His experience, relationships and understanding of today's college basketball landscape make him the ideal person to lead our roster-management efforts while continuing to serve as an outstanding associate coach. We're excited for Erik to take on this expanded role and for the continued impact he will have on Texas Tech Women's Basketball."
Villarreal, meanwhile, enters her second season with the Lady Raiders after making an immediate impact as the program's Director of Operations during the 2025-26 campaign. In that role, she oversaw the program's day-to-day logistical operations, including team travel, lodging, meals, staff and team calendars, budgets, equipment, fundraising initiatives and event planning.
Villarreal also coordinates summer camps, assists with game day and special event operations and works to streamline team schedules and processes to maximize efficiency. Throughout the past year, she expanded her responsibilities within the program by taking on a larger role in the program's 3-Point Club initiatives, donor relations, scheduling, fundraising efforts and management of Gerlich's public relations calendar.
As Assistant Athletic Director for Basketball Operations, Villarreal will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Lady Raider Basketball program while expanding her role in strategic planning, resource management and external engagement. She will serve as a key liaison between the program and donors, alumni and athletic department leadership, while helping identify opportunities to enhance the program's competitive position. Villarreal will also direct and manage the Lady Raiders' 3 Point Club fully, overseeing membership initiatives, events and benefit fulfillment, while continuing to support and help plan major operational projects and long-term program objectives.
"Ashlee has been instrumental to the success and day-to-day operation of our women's basketball program. Her professionalism, attention to detail and commitment to our student-athletes make her an exceptional leader within our staff," Gerlich commented as she reflected on Villarreal's first season with the staff. "Elevating her to Assistant Athletic Director of Basketball Operations recognizes the tremendous impact she has already made and the expanded role she will continue to play as we build a first-class championship program at Texas Tech."
Follow the Lady Raiders: Keep up with Texas Tech women's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Lady Raider season tickets are currently available for the 2026-27 season by visiting TexasTech.com/tickets. Or you can purchase single game tickets at TexasTech.com/WBBSINGLE
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