BY JON R. LAFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
Esteemed Valley coaches Bruce Bush and Roy Garcia this week were inducted the Texas High School Coaches Association’s Hall of Honor. Bush and Garcia are among the five inductees of the Class of 2015.
Bush, who last coached football for the PSJA North Raiders for five seasons before retiring in 2012, spent 34 years as a head coach while winning 271 games. He coached at PJSA High for two seasons beginning in 1981 and led the Bears to back-to-back district titles. He was inducted to the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Garcia, who was inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, has coached basketball for 39 years, including a 30-year tenure at Mission High (1972-2002). Garcia ranks among the Valley’s most accomplished coaches with 600 career wins and multiple district championships.
Garcia was notified of the personal achievement via phone Monday morning at PSJA Southwest High, where he has coached boys basketball for five seasons.
“The guy on the phone asked me if (the news) made my day. I told him it made my life,” Garcia said.
Indeed, coaching is Garcia’s greatest passion. But his illustrious career has humble beginnings. He grew up the youngest son of a sharecropper in Los Fresnos, knowing from a young age what his life’s calling was.
“I remember from the sixth grade up, I prayed to God to help me become a coach,” Garcia said. “I asked Him to help me and to guide me.”
Garcia grew up playing baseball and basketball under the stewardship of his family.
“My dad was very disciplined in doing what he wanted to do,” Garcia said. “He instilled in us to do our best or to try our best. Don’t go through the motions. My older brothers would correct me if I messed up, too. I looked up to them because they knew more than I did.”
Garcia received a three-year athletic scholarship to Texas Southmost College. Upon his graduation in 1964, he was drafted by the Army and was stationed in Germany for two years.
“Six months before my service was up, my commander volunteered us for combat in Vietnam,” Garcia said. “They said we weren’t ready. I didn’t mind not being ready.”
Upon his return stateside, Garcia resumed his education at East Texas State University where he received his Masters in physical education. He began coaching Los Fresnos baseball in 1971.
“The Los Fresnos athletic director had saved the baseball job for me while I was away,” Garcia said. “He didn’t hire anyone for that job. He coached the team, he did it himself.”
Garcia coached the Falcons for one season, leading them to the district championship. But when Los Fresnos’ AD left for Mission High, Garcia followed and was given the job of head basketball coach.
During Garcia’s inaugural season with the Eagles, the team finished third in district play. Mission would improve over the next two seasons, finishing second and tying for first before losing in the tie-breaking game.
“Those were the days where only one team (from district) went to the playoffs,” Garcia said. “After three seasons of not making it, we had all five starters graduate. The A.D. told me it was alright if we had a down year. The expectations weren’t there. I told that to the kids on the team, and they were pissed. After that, they won the district championship three years in a row.”
Such a story cuts to the heart of Garcia’s beliefs. A coach can preach all he wants, but he has to have helped to be great.
“Without players, you cannot do anything,” he said. “Because of them, that’s how coached are made. Your players play for you, you’re going to look good.”