Menlo Athletics has been synonymous with dominant wrestling for years, and Danny Castillo had a massive part in laying the foundation for two decades of success. Castillo joined the Oaks in 2001 as a founding team member under then-head coach and current Vice President & Director of Athletics Keith Spataro. Right away, Castillo made his presence known on the team, being named both a team captain and the most-improved wrestler in his first year with the Oaks. It would only be the start for Castillo, who would become one of the Oaks' earliest multi-time All-American, with second and fourth-place finishes in the NAIA. Spataro acknowledged Castillo's importance to the young program at the time and his work ethic that set the standard for the program that exists today saying: "Danny was as competitive of an athlete as I have ever coached. When it came to work, he wasn't afraid to give everything he had all the time and was always up for a challenge. Certainly one of the all time greats in Menlo history."

Castillo's impact on wrestling and other combat sports would only continue to grow as his professional career took off after his time at Menlo. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Castillo competed in the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) in eight matches during his first bout as a professional fighter. He then joined the UFC, competing for about four years. Castillo participated in 22 professional matches, including seven first-round finishes!

Castillo transitioned into a coaching and entrepreneurship role in the world of combat sports and fitness. As an MMA coach, Castillo has helped train a World Champion and a UFC Hall of Famer. Currently, he is coaching 14 UFC Fighters, five of whom are currently ranked among the top-10 in the world. Castillo also owns P2O Hot Pilates & Fitness in Sacramento, which has been voted the top pilates studio in Sacramento for six straight years. Castillo was one of the inaugural members of Menlo Wrestling, and spent hours perfecting his craft, most notably the infamous "Valparaiso Runs" (the Valparaiso Runs were a test of will!). He said: "That team was so competitive, and we had a lot of All-Star guys - all junior college legends and big names from California high schools. The culture was mono-e-mono. Wrestling is an individual sport, but at that time, the run was humbling, bringing out many mental tests for the entire team. It brought many good things out of me - competitiveness, determination, and life lessons."