Las Vegas, New Mexico - New Mexico Highlands University men's basketball head coach Zach Settembre has announced the hiring of Ryan Aragon as an assistant coach for the 2025–26 season.
"Ryan is a fantastic hire for us. He is deeply entrenched in our local community and has a tremendous reputation of being a high-character role model for all young people in Las Vegas. He is detail-oriented, organized, and extremely sharp and has already spent time as a successful head coach. He will be an excellent head coach for our developmental program and a huge asset for our team as we climb to the top of the RMAC," said first-year head coach Zach Settembre.
Aragon joins NMHU with over 10 years of coaching experience at the high school level, including two years as the Varsity Head Coach at West Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Aragon started his coaching career at West Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, New Mexico as an Assistant Coach and Middle School Head Coach in 2010.
Over the next 12 seasons he spent time working with Head Coach David Bustos at West Las Vegas High School consistently achieving the highest levels of success which included two State Runner-Ups and a Final Four appearance.
In May 2023 Coach Aragon accepted the Head Coaching Position at West Las Vegas High School. Throughout his first year he helped bring some of the success of the past back to West Las Vegas with a 15-14 record, 3.14 Team GPA, Brian Gallegos Tournament Champions, Stu Clark Tournament Runner Ups, and an Elite 8 appearance in the New Mexico State Tournament.
In his second year, Coach Aragon took the Dons to another level, leading them to an 18-12 record and repeating as Brian Gallegos tournament champions. The team secured a 3.07 Team GPA, hosted a home game in the New Mexico State Tournament for the first time since 2019-20, and advanced to their second straight Elite 8 appearance.
"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to join Coach Settembre and the NMHU coaching staff. Aragon said. "Being able to work alongside someone who shares the same passion and commitment to helping our athletes grow, both on and off the court is truly an honor. I look forward to contributing to the culture, development, and success of the program."
Aragon is a Las Vegas, New Mexico native. He graduated from West Las Vegas High School. He then graduated with his BBA in Accounting from New Mexico Highlands University in 2016 graduating with Cum Laude Honors. He then returned to Highlands to achieve his MBA in Finance & Management in 2019.
Aragon resides in Las Vegas with his wife Nisa and their two children EJ and Ava.
