Texas Tech University Athletics
DeRoo selected for 2024 Next Generation Institute
February 15, 2024 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech assistant coach Erik DeRoo has been selected to participate in the 2024 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Next Generation Institute as announced by the organization on Wednesday. Â
DeRoo, who also assists with recruiting operations for the Lady Raiders, becomes one of 32 coaches across 30 schools nationally in the Division I, II and III levels to be selected for the 2024 Next Generation Institute this year. DeRoo is in his third season at Texas Tech and his first as assistant coach after spending two seasons as the Lady Raiders' Director of Player Development. Last summer, DeRoo helped head coach Krista Gerlich sign one of the best transfer classes in the country as well as four-star recruit and two-time ADIDAS All-American Kalysta Martin in the fall.
Prior to his time at Tech, DeRoo spent five seasons as an assistant coach and creative recruiting coordinator for Abilene Christian's women's basketball team. While with the Wildcats, DeRoo aided ACU to a Southland regular season title in 2016-17 and a second-round appearance in the WNIT. DeRoo then helped lead the Wildcats to a 2019 Southland Conference Tournament championship and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
The WBCA Next Generation Institute is a prestigious educational program for experienced assistant coaches across the country who aspire to become head coaches for NCAA Division I, II and III levels. The program, which is in its second year, highlights important CEO attributes needed to lead a team and how to become a problem-solver in today's ever-changing landscape of higher education and intercollegiate athletics.
In order to be eligible for the WBCA Next Generation Institute program, participants must have at least five years of experience as a college assistant coach and must be nominated by their head coach. Participants meet prior to (virtually), during (in person) and after (virtually) the WBCA Convention, which this year takes place April 4-7 in Cleveland.
