Willie Mack Garza Named Defensive Backs Coach
2/23/2005 6:00:00 AM | Football
FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State University head football coach Craig Bohl announced today that Willie Mack Garza will join the Bison staff as defensive backs coach.
Garza, 35, replaces Jimmy Burrow Jr., former NDSU defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, who left in late December to accept a similar position with Frank Solich and Ohio University of the Mid-American Conference.
A former standout at the University of Texas, Garza comes to North Dakota State after one season as the defensive secondary coach at Tarleton State University, a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference. The Texans went 7-4 last season.
Prior to coaching at Tarleton State, Garza spent three seasons at Texas Christian University, where he had the responsibility of coaching the Horned Frogs' cornerbacks. He groomed two-time all-conference cornerback Jason Goss, who tied the school record with eight interceptions during the 2002 season and finished tied for fifth in career picks with 14.
During Garza's stay at TCU, the Horned Frogs won the 2002 Conference USA title and played in the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl, 2002 Liberty Bowl and the 2001 Gallery Furniture Houston Bowl.
Garza was the defensive backs coach at Western Michigan under Gary Darnell from 1997-2000 before moving to TCU in 2001. Garza went to Western Michigan from Texas, where he played and coached for Darnell. Western Michigan ended the 2000 season with a 9-3 record, dropping the Mid-American Conference championship game to Marshall. The Broncos finished in the Top 20 nationally in all four defensive categories, including fourth in scoring defense, ninth in total defense and 13th in pass defense. Western Michigan held opponents to less than 100 yards passing on four occasions.
Garza spent the 1994-96 seasons as a graduate assistant in Austin, working with the UT cornerbacks and special teams. Before that, he was a four-year starter for the Longhorns as a cornerback and free safety.
Garza was the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year, an all-conference selection, and a Freshman All-American in 1988. He played for three years under David McWilliams and one season under John Mackovic.
Garza received his bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993, and he is working toward a master's degree in the same field.
He was an All-America prep running back at Refugion High School and three-time all-state pick as a running back and defensive back. He was inducted into the Texas High School Hall of Fame in April 2000.
North Dakota State in 2004 completed its first season of NCAA Division I-AA football with an 8-3 overall record, including a 2-3 mark in the Great West Football Conference. The Bison ranked 23rd in the final Division I-AA Top 25 polls issued by ESPN/SportsTicker and The Sports Network.
