EDINBURG – Caleb Villarreal got his start in college basketball when became a student manager at Texas Tech.

The 2010 Mission Veterans graduate cut his teeth working with the Red Raiders. In three seasons with the program, he served under Billy Gillispie, Chris Walker, and Tubby Smith.

“You help out the coaches late at night, whatever they need,” said Villarreal. “Type up scouting reports and learn film. In division I, you’ve got to be able to do a lot of things.”

After graduating from Texas Tech, Villarreal took off to the University of Southern Mississippi to work on a master’s degree. While he was there, he landed a spot with the men’s basketball team as a graduate assistant.

“I already knew how to do film so I helped the video coordinator. Then he got another job, so that’s when I took his job,” said Villarreal.

Earlier this year when Lew Hill took over the head coaching job at UTRGV, he wanted to find locals for his staff. Mutual connections in the industry led Hill to Villarreal.

"Once I met him in person, talked to him and sat down, it was an easy decision after that,” said Hill.

“He told me ‘tell your parents you’re coming home.’ Obviously they were excited. It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, “ said Villarreal.

The Valley native says he wants to keep on learning about the game. His ultimate goal is to one day become a head coach at the division I level.