(Head Coach)
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Al Garcia starred at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx, where he won three CHSAA titles on the track, 1600m in 4:12 and VCP 2.5 mile course 12:37 respectively.
He continued his career at St. John’s University, 4:06 for the mile, while being a member of the NYS school-record 4×1,500-meter relay. In 1987 Big East Champs, he scored in the 3kSC, 5K and 4×800 to help SJU win Big East. After college, Garcia became the Puerto Rico national outdoor champion over the 1,500-meter distance. He was the winner of the 1988 Mercedes Metropolitan Mile.
Garcia coached LIU 1988-1994, OLGC youth 2000-2008, asst coach NDA 2008-2014, Head coach NDA 2014-present.
Notre Dame had never won an Island championship on the track, and had won only one Island championship in cross country in 20 years. That changed quickly as the Garcias wanted to build a complete team, one that could contend for championships. That meant a large, well-rounded team. “You’re only as good as your last ninth-grader,” said Al Garcia.2015-2020 XC under Coach Garcia brought NDA 5 CHSAA State Champs, 5 City Champs, 7 in a row Sectional Champs and 7 in a row SI Champs, as well Northeast Regional Champs in 2019. Indoors 4 CHSAA City champs, 7 in a row Sectional Champs and SI Champs 5 years in a row. Outdoors 3 CHSAA City champs, 6 in a row Sectional Champs and SI Champs 4 years in a row. Currently, 12 girls from NDA are competing at the college level. Paris Garcia continued running post college after a successful career at St. John’s University, winning 10 Big East Titles, broke the school indoor 400m record, earned All-Academic status and qualified for NCAA’s in 400m and 4×400 in junior and senior years. She was able to win four watches at the prestigious Penn Relays.
The formation in 2009 of the Island Express Track Club, with Al Garcia being one of the founders, catered to the development of young athletes, and with four young girls in his family, the Garcias jumped at the chance to provide community recreation and fun. Garcia knows what it takes to win championships. Having experienced success at a high level, enthusiastically passing on his knowledge to future athletes is community at its best.
Al and his wife Youree live for family. Their daughters, Pariis, Ariella, Brianne and Sofia were passed the baton from both parents. Youree Garcia was another very successful collegiate runner at St. John’s University and has been the right hand to NDA’s success. Their daughter Pariis has been running for the Puerto Rican National Team for six years, helping the 4x400m team score in two Pan American Games in Canada and Peru. In addition she helped the 4x400m score at Central American Games in Columbia and also won three National titles for Puerto Rico in the 400m and 200m. Pariis continues to train for the 2021 Olympics in Japan.
