Diego Aguilar was promoted to Assistant Coach after the 2025 season. Aguilar spent the previous two seasons as the program's Technical Coordinator after serving as a graduate assistant in 2023.
In the summer prior to the 2025 season, Aguilar earned national recognition when he was selected as a 2025 AVCA 30 Under 30 award winner, which highlights the top coaches around the country under 30.
In the 2025 season, Aguilar helped lead the program to a 27-6 record, tied for the most wins in program history, which earned the program its first Sweet Sixteen appearance. In his role as technical coordinator, Aguilar managed the team's video, data, and technology needs, including filming practices and matches, breaking down film, and preparing statistical and scouting reports. He supported coaches by analyzing opponents' tendencies, assisting with practice planning, and ensuring all technical systems run smoothly to enhance team performance.
In his second season on the Hilltop (2024), the Mustangs finished the season 25-8, finishing fourth in the ACC with a 16-4 conference record, and guided SMU to its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, its second in-a-row, and an opening round tourney win, sweeping Wichita State. SMU defeated seven ranked teams in 2024, including No. 1 Pitt and No. 2 Nebraska. The Mustangs also collected a program record of 12 ranked wins in their third season on the Hilltop.
Aguilar helped coach four All-ACC and four AVCA All-Region Selections. Naya Shime and Celia Cullen were named First-Team All-Conference and All-Region Selection. At the same time, Natalie Foster and Maya Tabron earned a spot on the ACC Second-Team and All-Region honorable mention accolades. Shime and Cullen were also named AVCA All-Americans, with Shime being selected to the third team, the program's first player to make an All-American Team, and Cullen bringing in honorable mention recognition.
In Aguilar's first year on the Hilltop, the Mustangs finished the season with a 26-7 overall record and won the American Athletic Conference championship. SMU finished league play with an 18-1 record, marking the best conference winning percentage in program history (.947), and won the program's first league title since 2016. The Mustangs rode a 15-match win streak into the NCAA Tournament and entered as a No. 7 seed after seven straight sweeps. SMU swept Texas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to finish the month of November without dropping a set.
Aguilar was a part of a staff that helped guide five All-AAC and two AVCA All-Region Selections, including the American's Player of the Year Emma Clothier, Setter of the Year Celia Cullen, and Libero of the Year Sina Uluave. Jamison Wheeler was named a First-Team selection, and Natalie Perdue earned a spot on the Second-Team. Clothier and Cullen both earned All-Region honors.
Aguilar started his collegiate career as a setter for Morningside University. He transferred to Missouri Valley College, where he played as a setter and graduated in 2022 with a degree in business management.
Aguilar competed for Club Texas Volleyball, where he now coaches.
