TGCA to induct Mission High coach into hall of fame

MISSION — Rafael Garza never let his brother quit.

When they were youngsters in San Antonio, Rafael Garza fired off pass after pass to Rene, three years his junior. Rene Garza walked with a pronounced limp, the result of a childhood bout with polio that left his right leg half an inch shorter than his left.

That did not matter to Rafael. Rene was going to catch that football.

“I came to the realization that he had a bad leg,” Rafael said. “I accepted that he had that, but I always looked at him as a regular person. Once I did that, I tried to figure out what I could do so he can be positive and what I could do so the other kids wouldn’t make fun of him. I decided to develop his skills.”

They worked on football. They worked on baseball. And they worked on basketball.

Rene Garza excelled in all three sports at Fox Tech High School in San Antonio. He calls his brother his hero and the Mission girls basketball coach plans on saying that in his speech this afternoon when he is inducted into the Texas Girls Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in Arlington. He is the first Valley girls basketball coach to be inducted into the Hall.

“It’s a great honor,” Garza said. “Just the idea of being the first Valley coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, I’m overwhelmed with the idea. It’s unreal. You don’t think about those things. You just go out and do your job.”

In an excerpt from his induction speech, Rene addresses his brother:

“You are my hero,” Rene Garza writes. “You have been very instrumental in my life. You gave me confidence.”

Rene Garza decided at an early age that he wanted to be a basketball coach.

“When other kids were at home watching cartoons,” he said, “I was watching basketball games on TV.”

Garza has coached at Mission High for 14 seasons, compiling a 252-174 record. He’s been in coaching for 34 years and a head coach for 26. He has a 483-272 career record that includes stops at Weslaco (boys) and Mercedes (boys). Garza has also served as the coordinator for the South Padre Island Basketball Coach’s Clinic, which had its 19th edition earlier this year. Nolan Richardson, Billy Tubbs and Jody Conradt have participated in past clinics.

In addition to his Hall induction, Garza will coach the Class 5A/4A South squad in Thursday night’s TGCA All-Star Game at Arlington Lamar High School. He’ll get a chance to coach Dalia Camargo, a Lady Eagles starter for four seasons, once more. Harlingen South’s Joslynn Benavides is also a member of the South All-Stars.

“This is a wonderful opportunity,” Camargo said. “It’s our last game together and that makes it a whole lot sweeter. I feel blessed to have played for him. He knows how to develop players, and he’s helped me become the basketball player that I am.”

Getting a chance to coach Camargo, who will play at Texas Lutheran in Seguin, a final time is a bonus on what he considers to be a terrific week for him.

“I saw her as a freshman and to have the luxury to coach her one more time before she goes to the next level, that alone is a thrill and an honor,” Garza said. “To see her mature as a person and an athlete is rewarding.”

Garza also describes his coaching career as rewarding. Rafael Garza said it’s a big honor for the family.

“I believe this from the bottom of my heart,” Rafael said. “I don’t think anyone works harder than he does. He will not let anyone outwork him — whether it’s running practices, running clinics or promoting basketball. This is the ultimate of his coaching career. What more can you ask for?”

David Hinojosa covers girls high school basketball for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442 or via e-mail at dhinojosa@themonitor.com.