Ronnie Cantu was elevated to Director of Women’s Basketball Operations on May 12, 2025 after spending the 2024-25 season as the program’s graduate student coach.
During the 2024-25 season, Cantu was able to gain an understanding of the inner workings of a basketball program. Along with fulfilling coaching duties, such as instructing individual workouts and assisting with practice, she was able to aid Victoria Pena, who spent the last seven years leading basketball operations and will now focus on her role as assistant coach, with day-to-day operations.
From team and staff communication to preparation for opponent arrivals to helping coordinate travel, Cantu was able to watch and practice the tasks of an operations director to prepare for her next chapter. She learned the importance of time management, effective and purposeful communication, attention to detail and problem-solving.
As the DOBO, Cantu will oversee travel plans, budgets, scheduling and act as a liaison between the program and athletics staff to ensure the program runs smoothly.
Cantu joined the Vaqueros program on Aug. 21, 2024 after playing for St. Edward’s in Austin from 2020-24. She earned her bachelor’s in kinesiology with an emphasis in physical therapy. She played in 94 games and made 31 starts for the Hilltoppers, averaging 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. She earned the Topper True award, which is given to one student-athlete each year who embodies what it means to be a Hilltopper.
Cantu hails from Mission and was a standout while playing for her father, Rafael, at Mission Veterans High School. She was the district and RGV Basketball Coaches Association (RGVBCA) All-Valley Newcomer of the Year in 2017, the district co-MVP in 2019, and the district and RGVBCA MVP in 2020. She also earned The Monitor’s All-Area Co-Offensive Player of the Year, All-Region IV and Class 5A All-State honors from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) as a senior.
