Anthony Garcia is in his sixth year as an assistant coach for the University of California San Diego cross country and track and field programs in 2020-21.
Garcia was named an assistant coach in June of 2015.
Throughout UC San Diego’s inaugural Division I campaign, Garcia helped the Tritons to solid performances at the Triton Quadrangular and UC Riverside Distance Invite. In La Jolla, the men took first, while the women placed second as both teams finished above a pair of Big West foes – UC Riverside and CSUN. In Riverside, seven Tritons put up top-10 performances in contention with several conference contenders. Over the course of the year, a handful of distance runners hit personal records, including Jake Selstad who beat his No. 10 all-time display in the 800 (1:51.78) and Gabe Reuter who entered program history at No. 5 in the 3000 (8:32.81) and No. 9 in the 5000 (14:46.22).
In 2020, Garcia led seven Triton distance runners to various overall event victories throughout what would be an abbreviated campaign. Throughout four meets of the season, the distance medley relays and 4x800 relays, on both the men’s and women’s side, executed first-place performances. Samuel Blake (3000/8:25.26) and Jake Selstad (800/1:52.42) were crowned winners at the Rossi Relays (collegiate winner) and San Diego Collegiate Challenge (overall winner), respectively.
Before coming to La Jolla, Garcia was the head women's cross country coach, assistant distance track and field coach and recruiting coordinator for the cross country and track and field programs at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon from 2011-14. During his tenure for the Coyotes, Garcia coached a total of 13 track and 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 UC San Diego in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in political science.
