Tony Romero is entering his 16th season (2024-25) as the head coach for Central Christian College. Romero served as an assistant for the Tiger basketball program for the five seasons prior (2004-2009). Romero and his staff guided the Tiger’s to 241 wins in the last fifteen seasons (includes the ½ of season during COVID), including wins over nationally ranked teams and sightings in the NAIA national rankings off and on throughout those years. Coach Romero recorded his 200th victory as a head coach on the first game of his 12th season on October 31, 2020 with a 93-61 victory over Calvary University (MO). Romero has guided the Tigers to five 20 win plus seasons. Seven years ago, the Tigers transitioned to NAIA division 1 after spending the previous 17 years as a NAIA division 2 institution.
In their first year competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference, the Tiger men ended the season with a 17-16 record, 3 wins versus top 20 opponents, its ninth straight post season appearance, qualifying for the NCCAA National Tournament, finishing 3rd in the nation. This is the most wins for Central Men’s Basketball as a four-year institution over any fifteen year span. Last season, the Tigers finished 12-18 and qualified for the Sooner Athletic Conference and were knocked about by the National Champion Runner-Up and SAC conference Champion-Langston University. The team also qualified for the NCCAA Central Region tournament where they lost in the Region semi-finals. Romero says “the last few years for us have been growth years; we went up a division and have proven to consistently compete. Even know it we had a losing season in the last year, our players and coaching staff are working hard to learn, grow, and improve. We return a solid core group of guys, coupled with the class we were able to bring in this fall, I am very excited to see how far this group can go. I feel this group is very eager to prove how much they have grown in the off season. The seniors have taken on great leadership and have made mine and the other coaches’ jobs a lot easier. We are having a great time leading this team thus far!”
In the Spring of 2022, Romero was named to the top 100 Most Impactful Head Coaches in Men’s NAIA Basketball by Silver Stream Media. Romero was also named the NCCAA Region coach of the year after the 2017 season.
As a player, Romero was a guard for the Tiger basketball team from 2000-2004. He was a four-year starter for the Tigers and during his playing career at CCC, he was voted “Newcomer of the Year,” was a team captain three years in a row and was voted All-Conference MCAC player his senior season. Romero also earned records on the court as one of Central’s career leader in points, three point field goals made and free throws made.
Coach Romero grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Del City High School in May 2000. Following high school, Romero received his undergraduate degree from Central Christian College in business management.
Romero is entering his 25th year as a member of the Central family. He says “one of the most unique things about Central is the family atmosphere. It is a joy to serve at a school where I have the opportunity to take a family approach to coaching.” Coach Romero includes his own family in the process as well; his wife, Lyndsi, likes to cook and bake for the guys while their three children, Ty, Nathan, and Quinn love to be in the gym or at practice with the team.
Romero met his wife of twenty years, Lyndsi, while attending Central. They have been blessed with two boys and one girl: Ty Jeffrey (17 years old), Nathan Wade (14 years old) and their daughter Quinn Elliana (11 years old). His wife Lyndsi serves in the Financial Aid Office as the Director of Financial Aid.
Romero states “I am so humbled from the support and leadership I have received from President Lenny Favara, and the encouragement from the administrative staff, as well as others that support this great school. Their support has enabled me to focus on the retention and development of our athletes both on and off the court as young Christian men. I want our players to understand that we have an ongoing responsibility to create an atmosphere of excitement around men’s basketball but a bigger responsibility to continually grow as men in their faith, academics, and relationally. I want our players to leave Central Christian College not only with their degree but also understanding they are better equipped to take on the daily challenges they will face in their faith, work, and as husbands and fathers.”
“Our coaching staff works hard to make each player reach their full potential at Central, not only as basketball players, but as Christian men. We pride ourselves on mentoring our athletes on a very real and personal level, and it is our desire that each athlete understand our love of Christ through our actions on the court and in our daily lives. Practice, weight lifting, chapel, team Bible study, and conditioning are all strong parts of the Central basketball program.”
Coach Romero and his staff would like to have his team to be defined by the following characteristics:
- Humility
- Passion/Commitment
- Unity
- Servant Attitude
- Thankfulness
Last, Coach Romero’s coaching philosophy is to teach our student athletes to put “God Above All and Team above Self!”
