Central Valley High School head varsity football coach Tim Garcia ended speculation about his future last Wednesday.
The 27-year-old's name surfaced as a possible replacement for Mike Glines, Central Catholic High School's legendary coach.
"It's a true honor to be handpicked by him," Garcia said. "But I'm in a pretty good situation here. I'm staying. I want to be loyal to the kids, administrators and district. I'm happy here."
"It means a lot to have him stay," said Central Valley junior Trevor Mew, Garcia's quarterback for the past three seasons. "It's a loyalty thing. He pulled me aside and said he wouldn't do that to me."
A standout quarterback at Grace Davis High School, Modesto Junior College and University of Mary, Garcia was hired to establish a football program and teach four strength and conditioning classes at Central Valley High School in 2005. He will be granted tenure at the beginning of next school year.
Central Valley's first-ever varsity team finished 1-9 and last in the Valley Oak League standings (0-7) in 2006.
In 2007, the Hawks lost four games by a combined 16 points en route to posting a 3-7 record. Central Valley placed sixth in league at 2-5 thanks to victories over crosstown rival Ceres High (25-20) and East Union (48-26).
Garcia, Mew and the JV Hawks compiled a 7-2-1 record and won an independent league championship in 2005.
"I want to continue building this program," Garcia said. "I really think we're going in the right direction."
Tim served as an assistant coach on Glines' staff at Central Catholic in 2004. He helped develop quarterback Austin Sanford, who passed for 1,655 yards and 20 touchdowns en route to leading the Raiders to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship.
"I was very fortunate to be able to go over there and coach under him (Glines)," Garcia said. "All I wanted to do was be a fly on the wall, listen to him and absorb everything. I learned a lot about management and work ethic."
When local media reported that Glines wanted to see Garcia succeed him, Tim received more than a dozen phone calls from players, parents and friends. They wanted to find out if he had been offered the position.
Garcia held a team meeting and told his players he planned to stay at Central Valley.
"I never had any intentions of leaving," he said. "It was just an opportunity that came about because of my relationship with coach Glines. I've been around him my whole life. He coached me in flag football and Pop Warner."
Glines even coached Garcia's father. Tim Sr., a 1977 Central Catholic graduate, also played quarterback.
Under Mike's guidance, Central Catholic's football program piled up 207 victories and 12 Sac-Joaquin Section titles in 22 years.
Garcia watched from the sidelines as the Raiders fell 35-21 to St. Bonaventure in the CIF Division III State Championship Bowl Game at the Home Depot Center last month in Carson. Tim wanted so badly to see his mentor conclude his illustrious career with a victory on the grandest of stages.
"He helped me get to where I'm at in my career," Garcia said. "I'm very thankful."
The 27-year-old's name surfaced as a possible replacement for Mike Glines, Central Catholic High School's legendary coach.
"It's a true honor to be handpicked by him," Garcia said. "But I'm in a pretty good situation here. I'm staying. I want to be loyal to the kids, administrators and district. I'm happy here."
"It means a lot to have him stay," said Central Valley junior Trevor Mew, Garcia's quarterback for the past three seasons. "It's a loyalty thing. He pulled me aside and said he wouldn't do that to me."
A standout quarterback at Grace Davis High School, Modesto Junior College and University of Mary, Garcia was hired to establish a football program and teach four strength and conditioning classes at Central Valley High School in 2005. He will be granted tenure at the beginning of next school year.
Central Valley's first-ever varsity team finished 1-9 and last in the Valley Oak League standings (0-7) in 2006.
In 2007, the Hawks lost four games by a combined 16 points en route to posting a 3-7 record. Central Valley placed sixth in league at 2-5 thanks to victories over crosstown rival Ceres High (25-20) and East Union (48-26).
Garcia, Mew and the JV Hawks compiled a 7-2-1 record and won an independent league championship in 2005.
"I want to continue building this program," Garcia said. "I really think we're going in the right direction."
Tim served as an assistant coach on Glines' staff at Central Catholic in 2004. He helped develop quarterback Austin Sanford, who passed for 1,655 yards and 20 touchdowns en route to leading the Raiders to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship.
"I was very fortunate to be able to go over there and coach under him (Glines)," Garcia said. "All I wanted to do was be a fly on the wall, listen to him and absorb everything. I learned a lot about management and work ethic."
When local media reported that Glines wanted to see Garcia succeed him, Tim received more than a dozen phone calls from players, parents and friends. They wanted to find out if he had been offered the position.
Garcia held a team meeting and told his players he planned to stay at Central Valley.
"I never had any intentions of leaving," he said. "It was just an opportunity that came about because of my relationship with coach Glines. I've been around him my whole life. He coached me in flag football and Pop Warner."
Glines even coached Garcia's father. Tim Sr., a 1977 Central Catholic graduate, also played quarterback.
Under Mike's guidance, Central Catholic's football program piled up 207 victories and 12 Sac-Joaquin Section titles in 22 years.
Garcia watched from the sidelines as the Raiders fell 35-21 to St. Bonaventure in the CIF Division III State Championship Bowl Game at the Home Depot Center last month in Carson. Tim wanted so badly to see his mentor conclude his illustrious career with a victory on the grandest of stages.
"He helped me get to where I'm at in my career," Garcia said. "I'm very thankful."
