By Moses Leos III
Variety has been the spice of life for Lehman High girls soccer head coach Nauri Garcia.
From headlining a rock band, to becoming a mariachi, Garcia admits everything he’s done so far he “did by accident.”
“It wasn’t something I planned out. It happened,” Garcia said.
But through his experiences, Garcia has taken pride in his wont to excel in everything he’s done.
It’s that belief that continues to fuel Garcia as he continues his path in music and soccer.
“What I do is what I believe in,” Garcia said. “I believe in my mariachi group. I believe in the kids at Lehman.”
Soccer has been a part of Garcia’s life since he was four years old. As a young player, Garcia moved up the ranks, playing for various youth league teams. He eventually made his way to playing varsity soccer in high school. His exploits allowed Garcia to continue his playing career at Schreiner College in Kerrville.
His success was fueled by his parents’ upbringing. Through their tutelage, Garcia learned the values of hard work and humility, along with the importance of family.
“A lot of it was the way I was raised,” Garcia said. “(My parents) came from nothing. They made sure I grew up with something and left with something.”
But Garcia, unhappy with the Schriner program, left to join the soccer team at Texas Pan American.
It was during that time Garcia began to tinker with the idea of starting his own rock band. With the help of college friends, Garcia started the band S.A.L.T., in 1997.
For the next eight years, Garcia and his group focused their efforts on putting their rock band into the mainstream market. That included the group recording a total of three CDs.
Their journey took the group across the state, from Odessa, to Houston and to the Austin area. It also included a stop in Manhattan, NY, where S.A.L.T. performed at the famed CBGB live music club.
While it was “a lot of work,” the experience was enthralling for Garcia, who said it shaped who he is today.
“Working with a number of different musicians, you get to know that the world is different,” Garcia said. “It teaches you how to gain people’s trust and have people gain your trust.”
But teaching and coaching soccer soon began to take hold in Garcia’s mind. It was bolstered by a three-year stint as a junior varisty coach at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High in 1999 to 2001.
Garcia was hired at Hemphill Elementary in 2002, but was seeking something more. It was in 2004 that he also assumed the role of Lehman’s girls varsity head soccer coach.
During his first year at Lehman, Garcia juggled the coaching and rock-and-roll lifestyle. There were challenges, as Garcia rehearsed with the band after practice. Attending gigs was also hectic, with Garcia coaching a soccer match, playing a gig, and preparing for lessons all in the same weekend.
But the music stopped for S.A.L.T. in 2005. Garcia then found a new outlet as a guitar player with Mariachi Suroeste in 2007.
For roughly three years, Garcia honed his skills, attempting to learn a style he grew up with, but never played. It was a different experience as he learned the guitar isn’t the focus in mariachi.
“The issue using the guitar in mariachi, unless you’re doing a solo, the guitar is part of the rhythm section,” he said.
But coaching soccer, primarily at Lehman High, continues to push him forward. It was strengthened when the program claimed it’s 100th victory during the 2015 season.
It’s one reason why Garcia works to keep his music and soccer life separate. Giving equal attention to both is his primary goal.
“I don’t make a big deal, because it’s a separate life. I love what I do, but I don’t mix them,” Garcia said. “I try to keep things separate. They are different worlds. I don’t want anyone to think that I pay attention to one more than another.”
