Anthony Garcia enters his sixth year as an assistant coach for the UC San Diego cross country program in 2020.
In 2019, Garcia assisted three Tritons to All-CCAA and All-West Region awards including redshirt seniors Aren Johnson and Sam Blake from the men's pack and freshman Samantha Rocke from the women's pack. He also played a role in the men's first trip back to the NCAA Championships since 2007. In addition, Rocke received an at-large berth to compete at Nationals, solely representing the Triton women.
Garcia was named an assistant coach in June of 2015.
With his help, Triton standouts Ella Verhees and Aren Johnson each earned All-West Region accolades in 2017, with Verhees becoming the first Triton female to qualify for the NCAA Championships since 2008.
In 2016, Garcia helped the UC San Diego men finish sixth and the women ninth at the NCAA West Regionals. At the CCAA Championships, the men took third while the women where fourth.
Before coming to La Jolla, Garcia was the head women's cross country coach, assistant distance track & field coach and recruiting coordinator for the cross country and track & field programs at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon from 2011-14. During his tenure for the Coyotes, Garcia coached a total of 13 track & field and seven cross country all-conference athletes and was named the 2014 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Garcia started his coaching career in the high school ranks as the head coach for the men's and women's cross country and track & field teams for El Capitan High School in Lakeside from 2001-09 and Mt. Miguel High School in Spring Valley from 2009-11. In 2005 he was named the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Garcia is also a USA Track & Field (USATF) Level II certified coach in endurance, sprints, hurdles and relay events. He was the head coach for USATF at the USA vs. Canada Dual Meet in 2014 and the Pan-American Racewalk Cup in 2015.
Garcia graduated from UCSD in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in political science.
