Barracudas' Garcia resigns after one season
By AARON GRAY (Daily News Staff)
Published: December 23, 2010
Junior Garcia
St. Croix Educational Complex tackle football head coach Junior Garcia, left, works with his team during practice earlier this year at the Educational Complex field.
ST. CROIX - After the Educational Complex varsity tackle football team fell to Charlotte Amalie High School in the IAA territorial championship game last Wednesday, the Barracudas received some more bad news - Complex head football coach Junior Garcia announced his resignation last week.
In his only year at the helm, Garcia led the Barracudas to an impressive 6-2 record and an appearance in the final. The 31-year-old St. Croix native was an assistant coach under Jason Woodward in 2009 before taking over the program this past summer.
"There are some other opportunities out there that I have been chasing for a while," Garcia said Tuesday night. "I feel like they're in my grasp and now is the time to go after it."
Garcia is a 10-year military service member and fought for two years with the U.S. Army in the Iraq War. He has been serving under the V.I. National Guard the last two years on St. Croix.
"I actually put my resignation letter in the day of the championship," said Garcia, who broke the news to his players following the 14-8 loss to the Chickenhawks. "I'm resigning as a head coach, but I won't be out of the kids' lives."
Garcia hopes to start a mentoring program for football players and wants to assist student-athletes in their pursuit of college and other post-graduation endeavors.
Garcia said the decision about his successor will be made by Kurt Vialet, the school's principal.
Possibilities include Scott Cofiell, who was the team's offensive coordinator this last season and held the same position at Central High from 2003 to 2007; and special teams coach Ignacio Llanos, who also coached the offensive line and was the head coach of the St. Croix Private Schools Pirates in 2009.
The Complex football program went 0-8 four years ago, but Garcia was one of the reasons the Barracudas have advanced to two straight St. Croix championships. While he was on the staff the last two seasons, Complex put together a combined 13-4 record and went undefeated against St. Croix competition.
"The last two years have been phenomenal," Garcia said. "We put together a great team and I will always admire their will to win. We had the best kids and parents that I could ever ask for."
During his prep football days, Garcia said, he was the first Educational Complex player ever to throw and score a touchdown on the current Complex field. That was before tackle football came to the territory.
- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 774-8772 ext. 352 or e-mail agray@dailynews.vi
By AARON GRAY (Daily News Staff)
Published: December 23, 2010
Junior Garcia
St. Croix Educational Complex tackle football head coach Junior Garcia, left, works with his team during practice earlier this year at the Educational Complex field.
ST. CROIX - After the Educational Complex varsity tackle football team fell to Charlotte Amalie High School in the IAA territorial championship game last Wednesday, the Barracudas received some more bad news - Complex head football coach Junior Garcia announced his resignation last week.
In his only year at the helm, Garcia led the Barracudas to an impressive 6-2 record and an appearance in the final. The 31-year-old St. Croix native was an assistant coach under Jason Woodward in 2009 before taking over the program this past summer.
"There are some other opportunities out there that I have been chasing for a while," Garcia said Tuesday night. "I feel like they're in my grasp and now is the time to go after it."
Garcia is a 10-year military service member and fought for two years with the U.S. Army in the Iraq War. He has been serving under the V.I. National Guard the last two years on St. Croix.
"I actually put my resignation letter in the day of the championship," said Garcia, who broke the news to his players following the 14-8 loss to the Chickenhawks. "I'm resigning as a head coach, but I won't be out of the kids' lives."
Garcia hopes to start a mentoring program for football players and wants to assist student-athletes in their pursuit of college and other post-graduation endeavors.
Garcia said the decision about his successor will be made by Kurt Vialet, the school's principal.
Possibilities include Scott Cofiell, who was the team's offensive coordinator this last season and held the same position at Central High from 2003 to 2007; and special teams coach Ignacio Llanos, who also coached the offensive line and was the head coach of the St. Croix Private Schools Pirates in 2009.
The Complex football program went 0-8 four years ago, but Garcia was one of the reasons the Barracudas have advanced to two straight St. Croix championships. While he was on the staff the last two seasons, Complex put together a combined 13-4 record and went undefeated against St. Croix competition.
"The last two years have been phenomenal," Garcia said. "We put together a great team and I will always admire their will to win. We had the best kids and parents that I could ever ask for."
During his prep football days, Garcia said, he was the first Educational Complex player ever to throw and score a touchdown on the current Complex field. That was before tackle football came to the territory.
- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 774-8772 ext. 352 or e-mail agray@dailynews.vi
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