Ray Saldana
By TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON
Special to the NEWS
In the spring of 1996, Ray Saldana stepped into a new role at Progreso High School as both Athletic Director and Head Football Coach.
The program had potential but lacked a consistent track record of success, and Saldana, a San Benito native and Greyhound coach at the time, knew the road ahead would demand every ounce of vision and determination.
“This challenge began in the spring of 1996 as I was hired as the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for the Mighty Red Ants,” Saldana recalled. “When I left, many of my fellow coaches were wondering why I would leave a well-established and winning program at San Benito, which at that time was led by the legendary Coach Tommy Roberts,” he said.
“When I switched my graduate plan from Finance to Education, I knew exactly what I wanted to be. Staying in San Benito, I would have had to wait many years since Coach Roberts was in his prime, and several of the assistants were next in line. I didn’t want to stay, but I knew I had to be ready should an opportunity open up. Hence, Progreso, a struggling football and athletic program, became an opportunity.”
The first season challenged everyone. “Our first year, we had a core group to be successful, but discipline and low expectations were common. We had to promote a positive attitude and emphasize the good things in our program while removing the elements that wouldn’t help us improve,” Saldana said.
The season began with a 40-0 win over Santa Maria but ended with a close loss to La Villa. Tragedy struck midway through when the team’s star running back died during surgery. Many parents pulled their sons out, leaving five freshmen starting on varsity — a moment that laid the groundwork for future success.
“These players would go on to be the core of what turned our program around,” Saldana said. “They had talent, speed, and strength. They were tired of losing and excited about the style of offense we brought in — shifting, motion, and shotgun formation. They continued to take their lumps and bruises playing Port Isabel, Raymondville, La Feria, Hidalgo, Rio Hondo, and Lyford.”
By the end of that crucial year, Progreso had produced a district-leading passer, three of the top five receivers, and a player who earned All-District, All-Valley, and All-State honors as a running back. The team finished with a 6-4 record overall and a 4-3 mark in district play, marking the program’s best record in more than 20 years.
“This team didn’t want to lose. They were a group of leaders who were committed to doing whatever it took to win,” Saldana said.
Principal Adolfo Chavez, who brought Saldana to Progreso, remembered the energy he brought. “I needed someone young and vibrant, excited, and really wanting to do the job. That’s what impressed me the most — his energy, his drive, his wanting to get something done. It was easy to tell that the program was beginning to flourish. He made the necessary changes, got the right staff behind him, and built a culture that was supportive and competitive. We even started a soccer program under his guidance, and they became state champions several times,” said Chavez.
Former player Jesus Ortega Jr. also credited Saldana with shaping not just athletes but people.
“I was in junior high when he would scout me. I had to prepare mentally and physically to join his high school team. Coach always pushed me to be respectful, have a great attitude, and be disciplined. That was our motto: Discipline, leadership, and respect will get you far. And it sure did, because of him, I became one of the fastest and strongest running backs in the Valley. He is also a big reason why I could be the only four-time Texas regional powerlifting champion, three-time Texas State powerlifting champion, three-time national powerlifting champion, and three-time world qualifier in the Valley,” said Ortega.
Saldana reflected on what made that team so exceptional. “Going back to the beginning, this group was the one who was in the weight room after school, before that, only a handful would stay. They, too, would be running sprints before track began. In a nutshell, a group like that comes along maybe once or twice a lifetime. I had the honor and privilege to have been a part of that journey.”
He also sees the lasting impact on the lives of his former players. “What makes me proud of them today? Seeing them lead successful lives — solid family men, men of God, business owners, having successful children. I want to think that our coaching staff had something to do with their continued success,” Saldana reflected.
Saldana has advice for young athletes: “First, be thankful to God for the opportunity to be healthy and to have the ability to participate in something you have a passion for. Please don’t take any day for granted; it is a gift, give it your best shot. Please don’t settle for mediocrity; it destroys your ambition to get better every day. Compete within yourself and use positive self-imagery. Play the game in your mind, see yourself doing positive things during the game.”
The Progreso Mighty Red Ants will be honored on October 17, 2025, before Progreso battles Bishop, with the presentation scheduled for 6:30 p.m., recognizing a team whose resilience, leadership, and commitment transformed a program and left a lasting legacy in the community.
After his time in Progreso, Saldana returned to San Benito CISD as an administrator, where he remained until he retired in December.
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