Staff Directory

Erik DeRoo

Title:
Associate Coach

Erik DeRoo will begin his sixth season with the Lady Raiders in 2026-27. He was promoted to an Associate Coach before the 2025-26 season, after serving as an Assistant Coach the two years prior. Erik initially joined the Lady Raider staff as Director of Player Development before the start of the 2021-22 season.

The Lady Raiders broke streaks and records in 2025-26, posting a 26-8 overall record and 12-6 Big 12 record. After being picked 13th in the Big 12 preseason poll and finishing tied for fourth in the conference, Texas Tech recorded its highest conference finish since the 2012-13 season, its most overall wins since the 2002-03 season and its most Big 12 wins since the 2004-05 season. DeRoo helped the Lady Raiders to their best start in program history at 19-0 and to a national ranking for the first time since January 2012, spending 12-consecutive weeks in the AP top-25. With the 19-0 start to the year, Texas Tech tied its longest win streak in a single season in program history with 19 straight wins (Jan. 27, 1992 – April 4, 1993), the same year Tech won the national championship. DeRoo coached multiple All-Big 12 selections during this season but was most instrumental in the development of All-Big 12 First Team selection, Bailey Maupin.

In the 2024-25 season, DeRoo coached the Lady Raiders to a 19-win season that saw the team reach the quarterfinals in both the Big 12 Tournament and the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). Texas Tech earned its 1,000th win in program history after defeating Utah in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament. In doing so, the Lady Raiders would snap a 22-year drought since they last won two games at the conference tournament. After the team’s run at the Big 12 Tournament, Tech was selected to the WBIT where they defeated 4-seeded Wyoming and overall No. 1 seed Virginia Tech to advance to the quarterfinals. DeRoo aided the Lady Raiders to key wins over Washington State, Gonzaga, Colorado and Arkansas – the first time Texas Tech defeated the Razorbacks in Fayetteville in the program’s history. In addition, DeRoo coached two All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selections in Jasmine Shavers and Bailey Maupin, who both scored more than 500 points in the season.

From a recruiting lense, Erik DeRoo oversees the Lady Raider’s International and Junior College recruiting efforts. During his time at Texas Tech, multiple NJCAA All-Americans have signed with the program (Sara Sanogo, Tahys Da Silva, Julie Nekolna, Ivana Krajina - all of which are also international). There has also been an uptick of International experience added to the roster including Gemma Nunez (Spain) and the signing of Stephanie Okechukwu (Nigeria), who is the tallest player in women’s college basketball history at 7’1.

As part of his original role of Director of Player Development, DeRoo assisted and helped the Lady Raider’s social media platforms gain the most followers of all Big 12 programs, while also leading the conference in followers on TikTok. He has also added a presence within the program from a Sport Psychology element as he has created a year-long plan that addresses team building, mental health and personal development for the entire program, which is called the Growth Guide.

DeRoo arrived at Texas Tech after spending five seasons as an Assistant Coach and creative recruiting coordinator for the Abilene Christian University women’s basketball program. During his time at ACU, the Wildcats won the 2016-17 Southland Regular-Season championship before advancing to the second round of the WNIT, after a victory over Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State. He was also a part of the 2019 Southland Conference Tournament championship, which led ACU to their first-ever DI NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. At the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign, he was named to the WBCA 30 Under 30 list and was also a finalist for the 2019-20 DI Assistant Coach of the Year.

DeRoo’s responsibilities at ACU included point guard development, where he oversaw the development of the 2019 Southland Tournament MVP and 2019-20 Southland Conference Player of the Year, Brea Wright. He also led all junior college recruiting efforts, where he signed the first two NJCAA All-Americans in ACU’s DI history. Other responsibilities included traditional high school recruiting, scouting reports, creating all recruiting mail-outs and directed the male scout team players.

Prior to his time at ACU, DeRoo spent two seasons as a Graduate Assistant for the Fresno State women’s basketball team. The Bulldogs advanced to the 2nd Round of the WNIT during his two seasons in Fresno and posted consecutive top three showings within the Mountain West standings. Fresno State was 23-10 overall and placed third in its league in 2014-15 and went on to finish second in the Mountain West in 2015-16 with a 22-12 overall record and a 15-3 mark in conference play.

DeRoo played collegiate basketball at the University of Texas at Tyler and then McPherson College (KS), which is where he received his bachelor's degree in health and physical education in 2014. He also earned his master's in Kinesiology with an emphasis in sport psychology in 2016 from Fresno State.

He and his wife, Kim, were married during the summer of 2017, and have two daughters, Tatum (7) and Blakely (1).