By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
BROWNSVILLE, TX—The San Benito Greyhounds’ overall success on the football field over the past decade, particularly its defense, led to one of its coaches advancing in his career.
Johnny Garza, who was the ’Hounds’ longtime defensive coordinator, will pave his path at Simon Rivera High School.
According to the Brownsville Independent School District, he will serve as the head football coach and athletic coordinator for the Rivera Raiders.
He will likely not be competing against San Benito in district games, as Rivera is in a lower classification due to its student enrollment.
“As someone born and raised in this (San Benito) community, being part of the Greyhound family has been more than just a job; it’s been a lifelong passion. I’ve been blessed to coach so many talented student-athletes, and help shape the futures of the sons and daughters of San Benito,” said Garza in a letter, acknowledging his 12 “unforgettable” years coaching in San Benito. “That’s something I’ll always carry with pride and gratitude. It’s meant the world to be part of something so special.”
Brownsville ISD Athletics Director Gilbert Leal is pleased that Garza accepted the Rivera position and said goodbye to his alma mater, where he played linebacker.
“Coach Garza brings passion, dedication, and proven leadership to our Raiders family. Rivera has always been known for its tenacious defenses. We just hired one of the best in the business,” Leal said. “With many years of experience as a coach and defensive coordinator, he helped lead his former team to numerous playoff appearances. We’re excited to see him guide our student-athletes both on the field and across all our athletic programs.”
San Benito had arguably one of the best teams it’s ever fielded on defense during Garza’s tenure as coordinator.
For four consecutive seasons, the ‘Hounds allowed less than 185 yards on defense, which included a shortened campaign in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. San Benito only lost once in district play over the past six years and went undefeated in 2017.
His last year at SBHS wasn’t as successful, however, as it finished 2-9, making the playoffs with a 2-2 record in District 32-6A.
However, in the more than a decade that Garza paved the way for SBHS to experience success, Rivera, at the same time, struggled.
The Raiders last entered the postseason in 2014. Since then, they have won just 13 games. They have lost more than 80 games, so Garza has quite a challenge ahead.
An enthusiastic Garza enters his tenure with positive feelings, however.
“Rivera is a proud program with tremendous potential, filled with hardworking student-athletes and a community that is passionate about football,” Garza said. “I look forward to building a strong culture, rooted in discipline, accountability, and pride — both on and off the field.”
He said his new coaching position is more than just about accepting a challenge with the Raiders.
“This is more than just a coaching change, it’s an opportunity to lead, to grow, to help shape the next generation of Raiders,” Garza said. “I’m ready for the challenge, and I’m bringing every lesson, every value, and every ounce of heart from San Benito with me.”
Unlike San Benito, which competes in a small district, Rivera almost doubles the number of foes. It includes two Donna schools (North and High), two PSJA schools (North and Memorial), two Corpus Christi area schools (Veterans Memorial and Flour Bluff), Harlingen, and Weslaco East.
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