Castro Stands As Shining Example For Others
October 11, 2024 | Women's Basketball, Joel Coleman
State’s associate women’s basketball head coach takes pride in helping others of Hispanic heritage.
STARKVILLE – Fred Castro knows all about the power of opportunity. Mississippi State's associate women's basketball head coach got to where he is in life because years ago, Hall of Fame women's basketball coach Sherri Coale opened a door for Castro to get into coaching himself at the University of Oklahoma.
More than two decades later, Castro has made the most of the chance he was given. He's held virtually every position possible in the collegiate coaching ranks – from student manager all the way up to head coach.
Now, while he helps his new boss, Sam Purcell, lead the Bulldogs to great heights, Castro is also proud to show others of Hispanic heritage that they, too, can make their dreams come true. He's living proof of it.
"It's funny," Castro said. "You don't realize who you're impacting. Sometimes, I do get a phone call, email or message on social media from someone that is young in the game from Hispanic culture, and they've been keeping an eye on me. And I immediately respond, 'What can I do? How can I help you?'"
While Castro is more than willing to lend any aid he can, the truth is that his life's work serves as inspiration and motivation all by itself.
Castro was born in Mexico City, Mexico, then moved back to his parents' home country of Columbia where he was raised until he was five or six years old. Castro's mom and dad both worked in education, and in fact, his father is still a professor in mathematics at Harvey Mudd.
His parents' careers are what eventually led the family to the state of Texas. It was growing up in the Lone Star State when the basketball bug bit Castro.
"I was one of those kids that on every Saturday, I watched the NBA on NBC games," Castro said. "I watched WGN and got my fill of Michael Jordan. Like so many kids growing up in that period, watching that quality of basketball and then you combine it with [Jordan's] style of play, I was hooked. I always loved team sports. I played other sports. But basketball is the one that just really got ahold of me. To this day, it still does."
As much as he loved hoops, Castro admits he didn't have the athleticism to play at the Division I level. However, perhaps because he also had a love for teaching given his parents' careers, coaching was solidly on his radar. Upon attending college at Oklahoma, it went from on the radar to reality.
"My passion for the game didn't dissipate [just because I didn't play]," Castro said. "I was really fortunate that I went to the University of Oklahoma and was able to work with the women's program there and Coach Cole, and for whatever reason, she took a liking to me and allowed me to kind of slowly integrate myself with the program. I got a great education both academically and from a basketball standpoint."
From 2001 through 2007 at Oklahoma, Castro was a part of six straight NCAA Tournament teams and a Final Four squad in 2002. In that time period, Castro was everything from a manager and scout team player, to volunteer coach, to video/travel coordinator.
It was a crash course in coaching, but Castro's foundation for life was set. Other jobs since Oklahoma have included being an advance scout for the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream, assistant stops at Albany, Mercer and Tulsa, and just prior to Mississippi State, Castro spent eight years as the head coach at Eastern Michigan.
What stands out about all of it to Castro though is that he even had those opportunities to begin with. He says his background has shaped his personality and has impacted everything from his work ethic to his appreciation for the chances he's gotten.
"I wasn't born here [in America] and grew up during my early years in South America in Columbia, and athletics there isn't like this," Castro said. "Pro teams don't have the facilities we have. They don't have the resources we have. This job at this [college] level essentially doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. What the game has done for me and my family has been incredible.
"I have a different lens than most people because I think a lot of people – through no fault of their own when you're here, especially in the SEC – you just assume everything is like this and it's just not. I think my lens and my perspective allows me to appreciate what I get to do every day and obviously use my culture, personality and what my parents essentially instilled in me every day here."
Castro's mindset and how he carries himself is no doubt inspirational for everyone, but especially those with related backgrounds. MSU redshirt freshman center Rocio Jimenez – from Elias Pina in the Dominican Republic – feels especially connected to Castro given her own Hispanic roots.
"Having someone like Coach Castro as my position coach has been amazing because he understands a lot of what I am going through," Jiminez said. "It makes me feel like I have another partner here."
And, like Castro, Jiminez takes pride in where she came from and how she also can light a way for others to follow.
"I know there are a lot of people back home that support me and want to see me succeed," Jimenez said. "It pushes me and others every day to be an example of what is possible.
"Every time I step on the court, whether it is for a practice or game, it makes me feel like I'm an example for all young girls and boys back home. I hope that I motivate them to achieve whatever they aspire to be."
Like coach, like player it seems.
Castro and Jiminez have both worked their way into opportunities. Both are in the process of continuing to make the most of them.
As they continue down their respective roads, there's no telling who's looking on inspired and trying to follow similar paths.
"I want to make sure that I do everything in my power to help those that are coming up and open any doors that I can potentially open for them," Castro said.
