A smile forms on Victor Garcia’s face when he talks about his approach to coaching and motivating students.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day,” he said. “It would have been if I was there.”
Garcia is a cornerstone at Del Oro High School and has impacted students both academically and athletically. He currently serves as an on-campus intervention teacher and occasionally steps in as assistant dean.
This fall, Garcia will take on an even bigger role as the third head football coach in Del Oro’s history while continuing his duties as head softball coach for a fourth consecutive year.
Garcia brings years of experience from coaching multiple football programs. Before arriving at Del Oro, he spent four years at Arvin High School as an assistant coach, where he coordinated the defense and developed a system he plans to bring with him.
“I received valuable experience coaching at Arvin High,” he said.
Garcia acknowledges that the transition may present challenges, especially since Arvin keeps its plays organized and available online.
He made it clear that his comments aren’t meant as criticism. Instead, he embraced the competitive nature of the sport.
“I look forward to the challenge on October 30th at 7 p.m. at Arvin High School,” he said, referring to the upcoming season matchup between the Suns and Bears.
Garcia explained that his decision to accept the head football coaching position was driven by the potential he sees in Del Oro’s student-athletes.
“I see the abilities. I see the skill. I see the talent of the student athletes on this campus,” he said. “I’m drawn to push student athletes on this campus to exceed the expectations, build a new culture, establish new traditions, and produce a winning product, not only on the field but off the field as well.”
For Garcia, building a winning culture begins long before game day. He emphasized that his football players are expected to “win every day,” a mindset that starts with commitment and discipline. Winning, according to Garcia, means showing up to the weight room every morning before school. Currently between 28 and 35 football players attend morning workouts, with a similar number training during lunch.
Garcia shared a powerful story that reflects his commitment to student growth. He recalled meeting varsity softball captain Davina Garcia during her freshmen year in the dean’s office.
“I saw a young lady who displayed a desire and want to succeed,” Garcia said.
He explained how he pushed her to stay in class, attend practices, and fully commit to the softball program. With structure and guidance from her coach, Davina Garcia has since been accepted into multiple colleges and plans to join the Marines, with a long-term goal of working in law enforcement.
“These stories write themselves,” Victor Garcia said.
Davina Garcia also shared her perspective on the softball team and her coach’s influence.
“We all learn and grow with each other,” she said. “I would say we’re like sisters. Honestly, I would say half of the girls would not be the way they are without coach. Every single girl has improved because of coach and for coach.”
When asked how he plans to balance being head coach for both softball and football, Garcia became emotional.
“I cannot answer this question without being super emotional,” he said. “But I can say this, it shouldn’t be a problem after May 2026.”
Despite the added responsibilities, Garcia remains clear about the standard he sets for his teams.
“I don’t play to lose,” he said
As Victor Garcia steps into this new chapter at Del Oro High School, his focus remains on discipline, accountability, and building a culture of success. One that emphasizes effort every day and achievement both on and off the field.
