Coaches
Coach Wesley Padilla began his basketball coaching career as a manager of the Men's Basketball team at the University of Wyoming during their Mountain West Championship run in the 2014-2015 season. A 2010 Rock Springs High School graduate, Coach Padilla returned to Rock Springs High School as the Head Boy’s Freshmen Coach and Varsity assistant coach for the 2016-2017 season in which the team placed second at state for the 4A Division. The following year, Coach Padilla began his teaching career at Mount Ogden Junior High in Utah where he also became the Head Boy’s coach. After only a year at the junior high, Coach Padilla was offered the Head Girls’ Basketball position at Ogden High School. In his third season at the helm, Padilla led the team to its first playoff win in two decades. Coach Padilla pursued another coaching position, by becoming a volunteer assistant coach at New Mexico State University in the 2021-22 season. After living in Utah and Texas for five years, Coach Padilla decided to come back home. Coach Padilla received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wyoming in 2016 and a Master’s Degree from Ball State University in 2018. He was a member of his high school’s football, and basketball teams all the while being involved in baseball and a boxer, where he was a Junior Olympic National Champion and on Team USA for the World Cadet Tournament. Coach Padilla hopes to make a significant impact on the Lady Mustangs basketball program, Padilla is married to his wife Krysta, a Nurse Anesthesiologist,. They have one daughter, Lilac Wesley Padilla.
Coach Elijah Archuleta is in his first year as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at Western. Elijah has been heavily involved in Mustang athletics over the past few years. Elijah started as a student manager for the men’s basketball team at Western Wyoming in 2019. During this time Coach Archuleta was able to learn from coaches Steven Soza and Kameron Pearce and be a part of the 2020 Region 9 championship team. After this, Elijah became a graduate assistant for Coach Padilla and the women's basketball team. During this time, Coach Archuleta helped the Mustangs reach the Region 9 championship game in the 22-23 season, and finish 2nd overall in the region in the 23-24 season. He has helped produce one All-American player, five all-region players, and helped 5 players move on to the 4-year level. Coach Archuleta was promoted to the assistant women's basketball coach after the 23-24 season. Elijah graduated from Western Wyoming in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management. He was one of the first graduates of Western’s bachelor program. Elijah is finishing an MBA through Western Governors University. Coach Archuleta's main duties include recruiting, monitoring academics, individual workouts, and game planning.
Leiana played two years of Women's Basketball at Western, alongside her sister, Kayla. She graduated in Spring of 2024 with her Associate's Degree in Health Science, as a Student of Distinction. Her plan after this year is to attend a university to obtain her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and then to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.