EL PASO, Texas – Colin Deaver (Director of Basketball Operations) and Drew Lakey (Director of Scouting and Player Development) will be members of the UTEP men's basketball staff in 2025-26, head coach Joe Golding announced Thursday. Deaver worked as the Director of Creative Strategy for the program last year, while Lakey is venturing to the Sun City after spending the 2024-25 campaign on the player development staff at Ole Miss.
 
"Colin and Drew both bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise in different areas that will help our program this season," Golding said. "Colin assisted our program immensely last season in his previous role, and I have no doubt that he'll continue to be a great asset now that he's been promoted into the Director of Operations position. Drew comes to El Paso highly regarded as an elite basketball mind, who helped Ole Miss to one of the best seasons in program history. I can't wait to see how he can help us here in El Paso, and I know he'll be an incredible addition to the staff."
 
Deaver is a well-known name to sports fans in the Borderland. He joined the Miners in September of 2024 and managed the day-to-day branding, marketing and storytelling of UTEP basketball. He was integrated into the daily operations of the team and had a leading role for the program's creative and social media efforts. After a brief time away from the program, he rejoins the Miners in a different capacity. He will take on a multitude of duties directing the program's day-to-day operations, while continuing to create some content and direct the vision for UTEP's social media operations.
 
"I am so excited to be back at UTEP as the Director of Basketball Operations, a role that has been held by many great people in the past," Deaver said. "I'm immensely grateful to Coach Golding, the coaching staff and players for their continued belief in me to help guide the program, and I'm looking forward to what will hopefully be a very successful and memorable season in the Sun City."
 
A staple in the El Paso community since 2018, Deaver previously served as a sports anchor and reporter for six years at KTSM-TV, the Borderland's NBC affiliate. During that time, he reported on a wide variety of sports and subjects in the region. He covered the Miners' men's basketball program closely, including the hiring of Golding in 2021 and UTEP's run to the 2024 Conference USA Championship Game. Deaver's dedication to his craft was evident, as he drove 36 hours round trip to report on site in Huntsville, Ala., for the Miners' title tilt against Western Kentucky.
 
Deaver is a native of Durango, Colo., and a 2013 graduate of the University of Oregon, where he served as a male practice player for two seasons for the Oregon women's basketball team under Paul Westhead. He lives in El Paso with his fiancé, Emily de Santos.
 
Lakey ventures to the Sun City following a historic season with the Rebels. He worked under Chris Beard, helping guide them to 24 victories and the school's second-ever trip to the Sweet 16 in 2025. They also attained a No. 18 ranking in the Associated Press.
 
As part of the Player Development staff at Ole Miss, Lakey was responsible for opponent and self-scouting, game strategy, individual and group player development workouts, as well as video and action prediction analysis for late game and special situations.
 
"I'm grateful and appreciative of Coach Golding for the opportunity to join the historic UTEP basketball program and its proud tradition of winning," Lakey said. "Competing for championships is the standard in El Paso, and I will give everything I have to our players and this community as we work towards raising a banner and hearing our name called on Selection Sunday."

Prior to his stint with Ole Miss, Lakey worked as an assistant coach at Old Dominion, where he was the youngest assistant in the Sun Belt Conference at the time. With the Monarchs, Lakey was responsible for opponent scouts, player development workouts, prospect evaluation and recruitment, video operations, as well as on-court instruction.
 
Lakey directly assisted in signing three of ODU's five highest-rated commits, which led to the 2024 recruiting class being the best at the school and No. 24 nationally according to 247sports. He facilitated the adoption and application of analytics and advanced statistical data and assisted with various operational tasks pertaining to the program. Lakey previously served as Video Coordinator for two seasons, and as a graduate assistant and head manager for the Monarchs the year immediately following his playing career.
 
Lakey appeared in five contests (one start) as a senior for ODU in 2019-20. Lakey walked on at Virginia after making the team from an open tryout in 2017-18. The Cavaliers went on to win the ACC regular season and tournament championships, helping them vault from being unranked to the No. 1 team in the country according to the AP Poll.
 
Lakey graduated from UVA with a B.A. in government and a minor in entrepreneurship (McIntire School of Commerce) and from ODU with a master's degree (M.S.) in sport management.
 
Season tickets are now on sale and may be purchased through the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu, visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets, or in person at 201 Glory Road (Brumbelow Building, UTEP Campus), Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  
Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club. Visit givingto.utep.edu/mac today!
 
For complete coverage of UTEP men's basketball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPMBB (Twitter), @utepmbb (Instagram) and on Facebook @UTEPMensBasketball  or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at www.UTEPMiners.com