Ernie Garcia brings a level of knowledge and enthusiasm to coaching not equaled by many in fastpitch youth softball. Ernie brings over 16 years of coaching experience to the Strikkers with his focus on the fundamentals and his aggressive style of softball. He began his softball coaching career in the West Valley Police Athletic League (PAL) and in the East Valley PAL. He successfully transitioned to coaching ASA club travel softball with the nationally recognized Strikkers organization. Ernie has coached at every level with the Strikkers, starting with the 12U Strikkers, earning a berth to the ASA Nationals in his first year. He continued to coach the 14U Strikkers, making the ASA Nationals an annual event. He moved up to coach the 16U Strikkers which has gone to the ASA Nationals and Western Nationals the last couple of years. And now Ernie is taking on the challenge of coaching the 18 Gold team and all that it encompasses with trying to match players to colleges for possible colliegate scholarship and play. Ernie's success as a coach can clearly be measured by the number of former players who have gone onto future success at the collegiate level. Check out the alumni page.
Ernie is also the head-coach of the Pioneer High School Softball program. Ernie puts as much enthusiasm into to his High School players as he does his club players. The solid record of Pioneer High reflects this. Ernie has been named "Coach of the Year" in the Blossom Valley Athletic League in 2005-2006 and in 2009-2010 school years.
Ernie's talents as a softball Coach has been recognized by many. Ernie was named "2010 All County Softball Coach of the Year" by the San Jose Mercury News.
Ernie was born in El Paso, TX and, at an early age, his family moved to San Jose, CA. Ernie spent his formative years growing up in San Jose, attending Mt. Pleasant High School. While at Mt. Pleasant High School, Ernie played baseball, soccer and participated in cross country. He is married and has 3 children with a hopeful softball player in the future.
