Matt Villareal joined the UNM staff in August of 2025 as Assistant Athletic Director for Creative Services and Digital Strategy for Lobo Basketball.
An Albuquerque native, Villareal returned home bringing his national experience and creative vision to the Lobos. In a newly created role, he leads content creation, digital strategy, and brand storytelling for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Villareal oversees recruiting creative, visual identity, fan engagement, and social media strategy, with an overall focus elevating the Lobo Basketball brand.
Villareal joins UNM after six successful years at Gonzaga, where he served as the Creative Director of Basketball Recruiting. At Gonzaga, he played a pivotal role in designing high-impact recruiting campaigns, managing social media content, and leading overall creative direction for Bulldogs’ men’s and women’s basketball programs. His work contributed to Gonzaga’s continued presence as a national powerhouse in college basketball, as the Zags reached the 2021 National Championship game, two Elite Eights and four Sweet 16s during his tenure.
Villareal’s experience also includes time at Oklahoma State University and with the College Football Playoff, where he contributed as a videographer for the 2019 National Championship Game. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Gonzaga and a bachelor’s degree in Sports Media from Oklahoma State.