By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
The University Interscholastic League has recognized Rivera coach Tom Chavez as one of 15 recipients of the 2014 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award.
According to the UIL press release, the award, now in its 24th year, was created to identify and recognize outstanding sponsors who enable students to develop and refine their extracurricular talents to the highest degree possible within the educational system.
The winners were selected by a panel of judges in the areas of academics, athletics and music from nominations submitted by school principals and superintendents across the state.
“I was quite surprised, but at the same time I was honored by it,” Chavez said. “Because when that happens, like I’ve always said, it represents a lot of people, not just only me. It’s something that I love and what I’m doing. I’ve spent most of my career in BISD. It represents a lot of things with the coaching staff, the kids I’ve coached, it brings out a lot of things that have happened here in my career.”
Each winner will receive $1,000 and a symbolic memento from the UIL, according to the press release.
Rivera principal Aimee Garza-Limon said Chavez serves many roles.
“Coach Chavez is an icon. He’s a great role model, I have a lot of respect for him,” she said. “He’s a great coach, mentor, teacher toward our kids. He’s become synonymous with the Rivera Raiders.
“He’s always teaching, always correcting and praising, the kids like that about him. What he’s meant to the kids … they look up to him, regardless if they win, lose or draw in a game situation.”
The award holds a special meaning for Chavez, who has served as coach, athletic coordinator or athletic director for more than 35 years.
“It’s everything I’ve worked for,” he said. “I played college football, and I always wanted to become a coach and work with kids. I love working with kids, and it seems every kid I work with is one of my own and I treat them like that. This is the way I’ve approached athletics. It’s not only Xs and Os, there is more components to coaching.”
The award also places the school and district in the limelight.
“Knowing that we have this type of person working for the district that generally cares about our students in and out of the classroom,” Garza-Limon said, “(And) I get the honor of working with him as the principal, not many principals can say that. He gives advice, good advice, and it’s not just about the here and now. It’s what’s next, what’s coming up. He’s a good life coach.”
Despite the long list of accomplishments and accolades he has received during his career, Chavez places this award at the top.
“I think this is the cream of the crop,” he said. “At this time in my career, it’s awesome. An award that’s recognized throughout the state, that’s the ultimate award you can get and I’m elated to get it.
“It represents everything I’ve done here in South Texas, in the Valley and in Brownsville.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter, he’s @andrewmcrum.