KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN—The Harlingen High Lady Cardinals search for a new softball coach is over.
Early last month Harlingen CISD approved Josh Silva to lead the Lady Cardinal softball program.
“The hiring process was composed of several interviews and scenario situations,” Harlingen intern Athletic Director Luis Solorio said. “Coach Silva excelled at each phase of the process along with his energy and passion for the game was contagious.”
Silva spent last year at Harlingen South where he was on both the baseball and football coaching staffs.
Silva has eight years of coaching experience under his belt and has made stops at the college and high school level along the way.
“My time at Harlingen South was a great experience,” Silva said. “I owe coach Brian Ricci many thanks for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow as one of his assistants.”
Prior to Harlingen South, Silva began his coaching career at Holy Cross High School in San Antonio, then made stops in Mission, McAllen and D-Bat in San Antonio.
While all of Silva’s jobs have been with baseball, making the change to softball shouldn’t be too much of a task for Harlingen’s new skipper.
“Aside from the dimensions and the speed, I really believe there are quite a few similarities between the brother and sister sport,” Silva said. “We’re going to field, throw and hit. I feel my experience in the game of baseball has prepared me for this opportunity.”
The interview process was simple for Silva who was looking to get into either baseball or softball.
“There were multiple interviews with different panels that basically gave me those involved in the hiring process,” Silva said. “It gave them the best chance to get to know me and my philosophy as well as my background.”
The Lady Cardinals went 3-7 in district play in 2019 and are hoping to find longevity in their new head coach as Silva is their third in the last three years.
In 2018 Harlingen went 5-9 in district play and last qualified for the playoffs in 2016 when the Lady Cards went 7-7 in league play. Silva will be replacing Nora Aguilar, who resigned from her position last March.
“Predictions are never made by those who work hard in my opinion,” said Silva. “They let their work show forth in competition, but I do know that a turn of the tide has come for the Lady Cardinals and there will be many things to be excited about when it comes to our program and our ladies.”