Porterville College Director of Athletics Dr. Joe Cascio has announced the hiring of Isaac Castro as the Pirates' new women's basketball head coach. Castro comes to PC after most recently serving as the women's basketball associate head coach at nearby College of the Sequoias in Visalia.
"We are very fortunate to have found a coach with a combination of experience, success, and ties to the Central Valley," said Cascio. "Coach Castro comes highly recommended and is well-respected in the coaching community. I'm excited to see the next chapter of Porterville College Women's Basketball."
Castro joined the coaching staff at Sequoias in April of 2017 and over the next six seasons, he helped lead the Giants to three Central Valley Conference championships, playoff appearances in all five full seasons, as well as three trips to the state championships.
Over those six seasons, COS compiled an impressive 127-33 overall record, including 8-0 during a limited COVID season in 2020-21. The Giants dominated Central Valley Conference play with a 51-9 mark, finishing no lower than second place.
Prior to Sequoias, Castro was the varsity girl's basketball head coach at El Diamante High School in Visalia from 2007-2017.
With summer workouts just around the corner in preparation for the upcoming 2024-25 season, Castro is excited to get to work.
"I'm absolutely thrilled and honored to have been selected as the new head coach at Porterville College," Castro said. "It's an exciting opportunity to lead and inspire our athletes, our college, and our community. I am grateful to my wife and children for being willing to loan me out. And to Dr. Cascio for giving me the opportunity to serve."
Castro will be tasked with improving a PC women's basketball squad that compiled a 5-21 overall record and went 3-9 in conference play this past season. He says changing the culture of the program is key to turning things around.
"Creating a winning culture is the priority; that starts in the recruiting selections and conversations with players and coaches," said Castro. "And it continues with our conversations and interactions with the community around us. The goal is to create a program that is ready to compete at the state level. I fully expect it to be challenging and make us super uncomfortable. In our first season everyone will grow."
Off the basketball court, Castro is a licensed marriage and family therapist with his own private practice. He earned his master's degree in counseling psychology from National University and his bachelor's degree in social sciences from Washington State University. He is a California community college product, having received his associate's degree from College of the Sequoias.
"I look forward to the challenge of building the program's successes and contributing to its continued growth. Porterville College is surrounded by amazing high school and youth coaches and players eager to utilize our program to change their lives.
"I want to invite the community to participate and be a part of the build," he added. "I know that we are stronger together. I also know that if the program is successful, it's God. If it's not, it's me. I look forward to serving our Porterville College community."
- Porterville College Athletics