OUAZ Football has announced the addition of Garrett Casteel as the program's new Defensive Backs Coach and Special Teams Coordinator, joining the Spirit staff in February 2026. Casteel enters his 17th season in coaching and brings a wide range of collegiate experience along with a strong background in player development, recruiting, and special teams organization.
Casteel arrives at OUAZ following a 2025 season at Eastern New Mexico University where he served as Defensive Backs Coach, Special Teams Coordinator, and Recruiting Coordinator. During his time with the Greyhounds, he coached multiple All–Lone Star Conference selections including Ryan Travis, Dillon Hein, Cyrus Moore, and Jarrion Patton. His special teams units ranked among the nation's best, finishing 16th in net punting, 39th in punt defense, and ninth nationally in kickoff defense.
Prior to returning to Eastern New Mexico, Casteel spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons at the FCS level with Southern Utah University, where he worked closely with the defense and nickel position group. In 2024, the Thunderbirds posted a 7-5 record highlighted by victories over UTEP and No. 24 Central Arkansas while ranking first in the conference in defensive touchdowns, third-down defense, and red-zone defense. In his first season with the program in 2023, Southern Utah finished 6-5 and closed the year with four consecutive wins while leading the conference in both first downs allowed and interceptions.
Casteel previously served on the Eastern New Mexico coaching staff from 2020 through 2022, helping develop All-LSC performers Caden Ochoa, Cameron Santa Cruz, and Beau Burns. The Greyhounds ranked second in the conference in red-zone defense and fifth in defensive touchdowns during the 2022 season. In addition to his on-field coaching duties, Casteel organized and operated numerous football camps throughout the Southwest, hosting events in Albuquerque, Roswell, Las Cruces, Dallas, Amarillo, and El Paso.
Before his time at ENMU, Casteel coached at Sierra College in Rocklin, California, where he served as Recruiting Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach from 2018-19 after working as the program's cornerbacks coach in 2017. During his tenure, Sierra College captured back-to-back Grizzly Bowl victories. He coached standout defensive back Will Brocchini, who led the nation with 22 interceptions in 21 games, and helped develop All-Conference receivers Hassani Zackery and Matt Smart while assisting numerous student-athletes in advancing to the Division I level.
Casteel's coaching career also includes multiple stops at the high school and youth levels in California, including time as wide receivers and defensive backs coach at Loma High School and five seasons as offensive coordinator for Folsom Youth Football. He also spent eight years on the baseball coaching staff at Vista del Lago High School and two seasons on the football staff.
"We're excited to welcome Coach Casteel to our staff as our new Defensive Backs Coach and Special Teams Coordinator at OUAZ," said Head Coach Reilly Murphy. "He brings valuable experience from his time at Eastern New Mexico University and Southern Utah University, along with a strong football mind, organization, and a tireless work ethic. Coach Casteel is a man of great Christian values who aligns with the vision of our program, and I'm excited to see the impact he will make with the tremendous talent we have in our defensive backfield and on special teams."
Casteel earned his bachelor's degree in Sociology from California State University–Sacramento in 2015 and completed his master's degree at Eastern New Mexico University in 2021.
