Willie Mack Garza enters his first season as the Dixie State defensive coordinator in 2018 after serving as the defensive backs coach in 2017.
Garza boasts 18 years of coaching experience and came to DSU after spending the 2016 season as a secondary coach at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Prairie View A&M in 2015.
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Prior to his stop at Prairie View, Garza spent two seasons at Pearl River Community College where he served as the team’s defensive coordinator. During his time at Pearl River, Garza helped construct one of the nation’s top defensive units. PRCC ranked fifth nationally in scoring and 10th in pass defense. Six of Garza’s players went on to sign scholarships with four-year institutions.
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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 made an appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.Â
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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. NDSU compiled 35 wins under his watch. The Bison recorded 10-1 seasons twice and defeated three FBS schools, including Minnesota, Central Michigan and Ball State.
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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.
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He then was the defensive backs coach at Western Michigan for four 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 cornerbacks at TCU. In 2002, two-time all-league cornerback Jason Goss tied the school season record with eight interceptions. The Horned Frogs won the 2002 Conference USA title and played in three bowls.
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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 a leg of the 400-meter relay, 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.
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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.
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He received his bachelor's degree in social work from Texas in 1993.
