SILVER CITY, N.M. – Western New Mexico University is proud to announce the return of Micaela Medina as the new assistant coach for the women's basketball program. A former WNMU student-athlete and graduate assistant, Medina brings a strong coaching background, years of experience at the high school level, and a deep connection to Mustang basketball.
Medina's coaching journey began at Western New Mexico University, where she served as a graduate assistant under Coach Rusty Kennedy from 2012 to 2015. That period included one of the most successful seasons in program history, and she played a key role in the team's day-to-day operations and player development. She went on to serve as a varsity assistant at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque, helping the program capture a district championship and earn a top-ten seed in the state tournament. She then took over as head coach at Cobre High School in Bayard, where she led the team to its first state tournament appearance in more than a decade. Most recently, Medina spent five seasons as the head coach at Valencia High School in Los Lunas, guiding the Jaguars to two quarterfinal appearances in the New Mexico State Basketball Tournament and elevating the program's competitiveness within the state.
As a student-athlete, Medina played for WNMU during the 2009–2010 season, appearing in 15 games. Her high school career was filled with accolades, including First Team All-District, Second Team All-State, Second Team All-Metro, McDonald's All-American nominee, Albuquerque Public Schools Athlete of the Year, and several academic honors.
Medina's return to WNMU marks a full-circle moment in her basketball journey. With a proven track record of building strong programs and mentoring student-athletes, she brings leadership, experience, and Mustang pride back to the sidelines in Silver City.
