Garcia named AD for PSJA

SAN JUAN — In a strange twist, one of the first orders of business for Orlando Garcia will be finding his replacement.

That’s because Garcia was named the PSJA school district’s new athletic director at a school board meeting Monday night at the PSJA High School lecture hall.

Garcia was 73-37 (.664 winning percentage) in 10 years as head football coach at PSJA North and won three district championships. He took the Raiders to the third round of the Class 5A playoffs in 2003.

“I think it’s a lifetime goal I’ve had,” Garcia said approximately one hour after he received the news (he was not at the meeting). “When you get in this situation, the possibility to be in charge of a school district is a big challenge, a big step forward.”

It is believed that Garcia and PSJA High coach Mel Rios were the finalists for the position that, for the last year and a half, was held on an interim basis by Richard Flores.

Garcia’s departure makes him the second PSJA ISD head football coach/athletic coordinator to become an AD since the conclusion of the 2007 season. Joe Sanchez left PSJA Memorial to become the Mission school district’s AD last month.

In fact, Garcia said his first order of business is to help find Sanchez’s replacement. Garcia said Monday that the position is closed and that interviews will begin shortly.

At PSJA North, an interim football coach/athletic coordinator is expected to be selected by school principal Antonio Lozano today. In the meantime, Garcia will prepare for life without the long hours of coaching football, although he’s not sure yet whether he’ll ever lose the feeling that came with what is now his former job.

“I don’t know if you’re ever really done coaching,” Garcia said. “This is a great opportunity I have to move forward.”

Todd Mavreles covers District 31-5A for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.