Vera Jo Bustos is in her sixth year with the women’s basketball program and is in her fourth year as director of operations. The previous two seasons, Bustos served as UNM’s video coordinator.
Prior to coming to UNM, Bustos spent two years as an assistant coach at Western State Colorado University.
Bustos spent the 2011-12 season playing professional basketball in Thessaloniki, Greece, for Apollon Kalamarias. She averaged 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in 21 games as a rookie.
Previously, Bustos was a stand-out player at Adams State and turned in a Hall of Fame career for the Grizzles from 2007-11. On September 27, Bustos will be formally inducted into the Adams State Hall of Fame .During her time in Alamosa, Colorado, Bustos not only became the school’s all-time scoring leader with 1,859 points, but she also became the school’s all-time leader in minutes played (3,805) and games started (105). In her four years, Bustos averaged 17.5 points per game and set records for most points in a game (36), most 3-pointers in a game (8) and most points in a half (27).
The Las Vegas, N.M., native received numerous honors and awards at Adams State:
- Hall of Fame Inductee (September 27, 2019)
- WBCA Division II All-American Honorable Mention (2009-10, 2010-11)
- Five-time RMAC Player of the Week (2010-11)
- Women’s Div. II Honorable Mention All-American (2010-11)
- Daktronics All-American Ballot (2008-09, 2010-11)
- NCAA Central Regional Championship All-Tournament Team (2010-11)
- Daktronics All-Central Region First Team (2008-09, 2010-11)
- Banker’s Classic Tournament MVP (2008-09, 2010-11)
- Chuck Stephens Classic Tournament MVP (2010-11)
- RMAC Pre-Season Player of the Year (2010-11)
- RMAC West Division Player of the Year (2008-09, 2009-10)
- Div. II Bulletin All-American Team Honorable Mention (2009-10)
- Daktronics All-Central Region Second team (2009-10)
- All-RMAC First Team (2008-09, 2009-10)
- Pre-Season All-RMAC team West Division. (2008-09)
- RMAC Freshman of the Year (2007-08)
- RMAC West Division Freshman of the Year (2007-08)
Bustos graduated from Adams State with a double major in Exercise Science and Sports Psychology, and she earned her Master’s Degree in Sport Administration in 2014 from Adams State.
A stellar player at West Las Vegas High School, Bustos owns the school record for points (2,098), rebounds (935), assists (536), steals (331) and games started (125).
Outside of basketball, Bustos enjoys fishing, camping, skiing and horseback riding.