RGVSports.com
Three finalists are up for boys coach of the year honors at the eighth annual RGVSports.com & Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame awards ceremony, which is set for next Tuesday.
Brownsville Rivera head football coach Tom Chavez, Roma head football coach Max Habecker Jr. and Brownsville Rivera head soccer coach Salvador Garcia are in the running for the award, which will be handed out at the ceremony set for 6:30 p.m. at Marine Military Academy’s Col. Philip J. Yeckel Memorial Auditorium in Harlingen.
The ceremony is free to the public.
For a third consecutive year, RGVSports.com and the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame are teaming up for the awards ceremony, which honors the best performances of the 2014-15 Valley high school athletic season.
Longtime coach Chavez led the surprising Rivera Raiders to a share of the District 32-6A title then preceded to go three rounds deep into the playoffs with impressive wins over PSJA North (49-42) and McAllen (36-29).
Chavez was named All-Valley Coach of the Year and was one of 15 recipients of the 2014 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award.
While Chavez was busy leading his Raiders in Class 6A, in Class 5A Habecker was helping Roma to its best season ever.
Under his guidance, the Gladiators made their first playoff appearance in program history then rallied to beat District 32-5A champion Mercedes in the first round of the playoffs. In the second round, the Glads played inspired ball, but narrowly fell to Gregory-Portland 28-24.
The Gladiators battled injuries all season long but thanks to Habecker, the squad was able to stay focused and became one of the better defensive teams in the Valley.
Finally, Garcia, who just completed his 18th season as the Raiders’ head soccer coach, did what every coach ultimately wants to do, which is win a state title.
Under his tutelage, the Raiders went 28-0 and won the inaugural Class 6A state championship.
Thanks to Garcia, the team kept its focus all season as it went 14-0 to win the District 32-6A title then won seven games in the playoffs, including a 2-0 victory against Katy Cinco Ranch in the state final on April 18 in Georgetown.
On the season, the Raiders outscored opponents 138-24 and finished as the No. 2 team in the nation behind private school Montverde Academy of Florida in the Winter FAB top 50 rankings.
2014-15 RGVSports.com & Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame awards
Boys coach of the year finalists
Tom Chavez, Brownsville Rivera (Football)
Salvador Garcia, Brownsville Rivera (Boys soccer)
Max Habecker Jr., Roma (Football)