Prairie View A&M University Athletics

Native Texan and former University of Texas standout Willie Mack Garza begins his first season as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator on the Prairie View A&M football staff.  Garza comes to PVAMU after a two-year stint as defensive coordinator at Pearl River Community College.

Under Garza, PRCC ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense as they only yielded 15 points per game in 2014. PRCC also ranked 10th in pass defense as four defensive players earned All-Mississippi Association of Community & Junior College Honors with six defenders signing collegiate scholarships.  Garza’s defense also produced the top pass rusher in the league as Drew Bailey led the way with 9.5 sacks.

A native of Refugio, Texas, Garza has coached at the highest level college football has to offer as the defensive backs coach at the University of Southern California under former head coach Lane Kiffin for one season in 2010.  Prior to his stint at USC, Garza spent 2009 as the defensive backs coach at Tennessee also under Kiffin. The Volunteers were 12th nationally in both pass defense and pass efficiency defense as they finished second in the SEC East and an appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. 

Before moving to Tennessee, Garza spent four years (2005-09) at North Dakota State as the secondary coach for one season and the defensive coordinator in his final three years as the team compiled 35 wins under his watch. The then-Division II Bison’s recorded 10-1 seasons twice and defeated three Division I schools, including Minnesota, Central Michigan and Ball State.

Garza began his coaching career at Texas, his alma mater, as a graduate assistant working with the cornerbacks and special teams for three years (1994-96). The Longhorns played in the 1994 Sun Bowl, 1995 Sugar Bowl and 1997 Fiesta Bowl.

He then was the defensive backs coach at Western Michigan for 4 seasons (1997-2000). In 2000, the 9-3 Broncos were 13th nationally in pass defense and played in the Mid-American Conference championship game.  He spent the next three years (2001-03) coaching the cornerbacks at TCU. In 2002, two-time all-league cornerback Jason Goss tied the school season record with 8 interceptions. The Horned Frogs won the 2002 Conference USA title and played in three bowls (2001 Galelryfurniture.com Bowl, 2002 Liberty Bowl and 2003 Fort Worth Bowl).  He was also the secondary coach at Tarleton State in 2004.

Garza is a member of the Texas High School Hall of Fame after his stellar prep career at Refugio High School where he earned Parade All-American, All-State, and All-Decade (1980-1990) honors on the gridiron. In his senior season in 1988, Garza rushed for an amazing 2,954 yards and scored a then-national record 56 touchdowns (336 total points).  In addition to football, Garza was also a track and field standout at Refugio, running the 100, 200, and 4-by-100 meters, as well as one of the state’s top long jumpers. RHS won the Texas state title his junior year.  Garza was inducted into the prestigious Texas prep Hall in 2001.

Garza was a four-year (1988, 1990-92) starter at cornerback and safety at Texas under then-head coach David McWilliams. He was a Freshman All-American and the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year in 1988. The Longhorns went 10-2 and played in the Cotton Bowl in 1990.

He received his bachelor's degree in social work from Texas in 1993 and is working towards a master’s in the same field.

COACHING EXPERIENCE
2015                Prairie View A&M, linebackers
2013-14           Pearl River Community College, defensive coordinator/secondary
2010                USC, secondary
2009                Tennessee, defensive backs
2005-08           North Dakota State, defensive coordinator/secondary
2004                Tarleton State, secondary coach
2001-03           TCU, cornerbacks
1997-00           Western Michigan, defensive backs