With over two decades of coaching experience, Linda Garza is nearing her two-year anniversary of coaching at UNR. In addition to leading 24 student athletes, Garza exudes positivity – both on and off the field. When she isn’t rallying her team in the locker room, the coach is filling her Twitter feed with positive messages and quotes to inspire the community. 

Coach Garza joined the Wolf Pack athletics department in July 2021 after five seasons at Fresno State. With an impressive record of 161-82, 21 Mountain West all-conference selections, multiple student awards, one Mountain West title and more, it is no surprise that Nevada poached her from the Bulldogs. She began her career in Las Vegas, and spent time at Arkansas, Tulsa, Purdue, Wright State, Cal Poly, UC Riverside until she reached Fresno in 2017. Noticero Móvil had a chance to sit down with her to discuss her career, her heritage, and what motivates her to keep a positive outlook. 

Luke Merlino: How do you use social media to inspire and connect with your athletes, and the community at large? 

Linda Garza: Social Media is a great way to promote Nevada Softball. We use it for inspirational quotes and player development.  We have found social media as the main platform for fan engagement, giving our followers an inside look into our program. I am fortunate to have a great creative media team and they take our ideas and execute them very well.  

Merlino: Where does your positive energy come from?  

Garza: My parents were incredible. I was raised with a simple motto “the glass is always half full” and always stay focused on the things we can control. I take pride in my leadership position, and I want to be a source of joy in my players’ lives. Coming to the field and training, I wear many hats. I’ve grown personally over the last few years, to use this power more positively. My team is positive, and they make my level of energy so easy to maintain. 

Merlino: Who is your biggest inspiration/role model? 

Garza: Tough question, because so many people have influenced my career in life. My dad if I had to narrow it down to one. He was a supporter and provider for everyone. He preaches daily how special this life is and how never to take it for granted. But to be honest, I have so many daily interactions with my family and friends that they give me the true inspiration to always seek growth and happiness. 

Merlino:How did you originally get your position at UNLV? Did you know right away you wanted a career in sports?

Garza: When I was in high school, I was recruited by a few top schools for softball. UNLV at the time had just gone to the Women’s College World Series.  I recognized their brand and desired that level of competition. It was close enough to home that my family could be part of my journey and lend support in my career. Looking back, I could have really gone anywhere. I was a good kid and ready to tackle the world. I would never change a thing; I am the coach I am because of my Head Coach Shan McDonald at UNLV. She believed in me when I was 17 years old, she still follows my career. I have a career in sports because she gave me the space to grow as a person and as a professional. I was taught and got to see firsthand what integrity, hard work and sportsmanship looked like. 

Merlino:What is it like being Latina in sports, and a female athlete locally?

Garza: I take pride in my heritage and my leadership position. I didn’t grow up with people that look like me in higher education or coaching. So, to be able to represent women and Latina women specifically is a privilege and honor. I do think representation matters, in all cultures and genders. 

Merlino: What effect does having a female athletic director have on your players? What does it mean for the UNR and Reno community at large?   

Garza: You have someone in leadership that understands what our athletes are going through firsthand. Our players battle for equal opportunity daily. We don’t make excuses; we are aware, and our focus is to be part of the change. Having a female athletic director makes all the difference in the world. 

We have to close the gap between females and males at Nevada. We are aware of it, and need to put forth energy and funds into closing the gap while still not compromising the integrity of our department and championship vision. There is a fine line, and we are working diligently to improve our female equality and support. Our field renovation has been a major step. Our department and President have been fantastic. We are going to continue to improve, I have no doubt in that. 

Merlino: Has your Latina heritage impacted your career journey? If so, how? 

Garza: My mom was an equal partner with my dad. I got to see her work daily as a mother and balance her career. She and my dad raised me with Latin culture, alongside the vision that I could and become anything I wanted to be.  I am where I am and who I am because of my family support, work ethic and community I grew up in. I saw people who look like me in roles that gave me the confidence that I could lead as a female Latina coach. There is something to be said about the Latin work ethic, we make no excuses, and I am committed to leaving this profession and world better than how I found it.

Merlino: How have you developed your work ethic over your career? Is that an important value to you? 

Garza: I saw my dad wake up every day with a smile and with integrity to do his best work. He drove in us kids the value of your word, commitment and work ethic. To this day, my dad still comes to all my games, values what I do, and shows support for how I mastered my craft as a leader. So much of my success is “Garza” success. Meaning, my family and name have a standard and I have an obligation to live up to that brand. When I win we all win. My brothers have always shared in my success. They are my greatest support. I don’t think people understand how neat it is, to be 44 and still see your oldest brother and dad able to see you succeed firsthand. I lost my mother to cancer in 2017 and my brother in a car accident in 2016. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel our family love while I do what I do on and off the field. All we know is work and doing the job right. 

Merlino: What is your proudest accomplishment from your time coaching here at UNR and why?

Garza: Ability in 12 months to take a program that was 17-35 in 2022 ranked over 215 of 300 DI programs and stand 19-2 a year later sitting at a Top 50 program in the country. My greatest accomplishment is seeing these young women grow daily into not just great softball players, but incredible people. They are truly the gift in building our program. I tell people every day, it’s not what we do that I love, it’s how we do it and why we do it. They make our community and campus better, not only for winning, but for how they live life. 

Merlino: How do you hope to connect with the new recruits this season? 

Garza: Love them and build relationships with them. It’s that simple.