Kingsville ISD names Falfurrias' Ruben Garcia new athletic director

Quinton Martinez, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·3 min read

The Kingsville ISD school board unanimously approved Falfurrias head football coach and athletic director Ruben Garcia as the school district's next athletic director at a special meeting Tuesday night, by a vote of 7-0.

Ruben Garcia was named the athletic director at Kingsville ISD after the school board unanimously approved his hiring on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Garcia had been head football coach and athletic director at Falfurrias since 2020.
Ruben Garcia was named the athletic director at Kingsville ISD after the school board unanimously approved his hiring on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Garcia had been head football coach and athletic director at Falfurrias since 2020.

Garcia replaces Michael Davila, who became AD, head football coach and baseball coach for the district in 2019.

"I think it is a diamond in the rough," Garcia said of Kingsville ISD. "I felt that even when I was in college (at Texas A&M-Kingsville). If you do things the right way and get the right people on board working toward a common goal, you can be successful in all aspects, academically and athletically.

"Kingsville is a tradition-rich school that has a lot of great traditions and previous success, and the goal is to bring them back to that success in all sports. I want to honor and be true to the traditions, but bring new flavor and excitement."

Kingsville ISD superintendent Cissy Reynolds-Perez said many people the district contacted spoke highly of Garcia in a district release.

"Mr. Garcia comes to KISD highly recommended from numerous supervisors and colleagues throughout the state," Reynolds-Perez said. "His impressive academic and athletic record speaks highly of his experience. He has a heart for kids and is excited to lead the Brahma Athletics program."

A former assistant at Miller and before that at Crosby, Garcia took over as head football coach and athletic director at Falfurrias in 2020 and had a career record of 8-21 at Fal, making the playoffs for the first time last fall. It was the Jerseys' first playoff appearance since 2016.

"I've grown tremendously over these last 2.5 years. ... You always hope to leave a place better than you found it," Garcia said. "I honestly feel I did my best to do that. I've learned about handling budgets, publicizing your kids and their accomplishments, promoting all sports."

Garcia credited current Tyler Chapel Hill head coach Jeff Riordan (formerly at Crosby) and Miller athletic coordinator Justen Evans as influencing him and helping him on his current path.

"I was blessed to work under Jeff Riordan at Crosby for six years and under Justen Evans at Miller," Garcia said. "They are the ones that taught and preached what it takes to be a successful athletic director/athletic coordinator. I've had great mentors. You have to be a servant leader, show your support and lead by example and do everything you can at the end of the day.

"My programs will always be founded by relationships with kids and building them up to make a lifelong significant, positive impact in their lives."

Kingsville competes in District 16-4A Division I in football and District 31-4A in other sports.

Garcia, 36, has a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Texas A&M-Kingsville, a Master of Education in sports administration from Concordia University and a Master of Education in educational administration from Lamar University.

Garcia expects to start his new role with Kingsville ISD next week.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Falfurrias' Garcia named AD at Kingsville ISD