St. Louis Community College Men’s and Women’s Soccer – Coach Ricardo Garza

Matt: [00:00:00] Hi, everybody. Welcome to Discover College Soccer. Today, I’m lucky enough to be joined by Coach Garza at St. Louis Community College. Welcome, Coach. Hey, how you doing? 

Thank you. Doing well. 

Yeah. Thanks for being here. Lucky to have you here. You’re, you’re on the head man with both the men and the women, uh, over there at STLCC.

Uh, we’re seeing several community colleges going that, that dual route. Um, hopefully it’s not, uh, it’s not too taxing. It is. Yeah. Yeah, I can imagine. I, uh, I know when I was, when I was coaching, I was a staff of one. The women’s coach was a staff of one. So we just, we’re de facto each other’s assistants. And, uh, I can’t imagine, uh, trying to do two programs.

Although my first year, when I was in college, the head coach was part time and was the head men’s and women’s, which. As a freshman collegiate player, it didn’t work as a part time. Yeah. This is my, uh, 

Coach: this is my first year finally being full time after almost 20 years of coaching. So, um, it’s about time. 

Matt: I bet.

I bet. Well, we’re talking here mid, mid December kind of the, the, the heart of that showcase season and, and recruiting and everything moving along. So in terms of. You’re recruiting during the season. Give me an idea, like on a percentage basis, how much of your time during the regular fall season is spent.[00:01:30] 

On recruiting versus everything else. 

Coach: Uh, I would say, um, the end of August early September We’re just focusing on our season because we’re kind of getting things rolling Um, but about mid september to the end of september now, we’re already Starting to the recruiting process. Um as as overall staff for both programs 

Matt: and in terms of Where you like to go to to look for players or or the showcases tournaments final what’s on your your must hit list?

Coach: So, I mean, being here in Saint Louis, it’s a hotbed. There’s players all over the place. Um, it’s just hard to convince them to stay home. Uh, the 1st and 2nd tier players tend to want to leave home. Most mostly, um, unless it’s a completely, um, unique situation at our college. We have all types of 2 year trade.

Programming, whether it’s a nurse or radiology or emt. So, if someone already kind of has it in their mindset, then they reach out to us to say, I’m coming. I’m interested in your program. They already know they’re a good player and they’re connecting the dots. Um, that’s an easy recruiting deal. But Lou fuse always has great.

Tournaments, and we really don’t miss any of those because they’re starting to really get out of town. Midwest teams in and in our program, we can get in in state tuition to most [00:03:00] states that touch Missouri are close enough to it. So, it’s a no brainer to do the college showcases just here in Saint Louis.

Matt: Yeah, yeah, there’s definitely some some good ball being played there. Um, well, and we saw everybody, uh, at the the girls ECNL event this past weekend, freezing there took us is off. Uh, with that snowy rain or whatever was going on over there. 

Coach: Yeah, and then yesterday was 60 something degrees here in St.

Louis. Go figure. 

Matt: Yeah, you just never know. Well, I felt the same way in Raleigh for I was in Raleigh for the girls event. It was like 20 plus degrees. Degrees when the women’s final four was being played and then we saw the men, uh, Get it this past weekend and it wasn’t that bad. So you just never know well in terms of your your recruiting, do you Um, do you guys host id camps or do you or your staff work other id camps?

Is that part of your process at all? 

Coach: I I used to do do that. Um before I had kids Uh, well, my wife had kids so like, um where i’m baby number four now, so I think I did But once the 2nd and 3rd baby came, I stopped doing those, those, those camps and things like that, uh, just time constraints and things. But, um, there’s really not, there’s really not a need anymore.

It seems like everybody, every college under the sun, every NCAA school is doing a cash grab, uh, let’s sign up for my ID cams and a lot of kids think they’re going to go to those schools if they do those camps. And we get invited to go to those camps to watch [00:04:30] players. So, um, yeah, No sense in trying to compete against the machine here in the St.

Louis area. Uh, we’re very cordial with every college coach. I coached some of my pro in the summer. I coach all of these NCAA players in the summer anyway. So we just work together to be honest. Um, that’s what I’ve been. Kind of building with all of my programs was work with the four year schools in your area and recruit together players.

They can’t get in players. They can’t package, uh, and be a platform for those kids that aren’t ready. Um, but we still want kids that those programs wanted, but just can’t package. So kind of crack that code about 10 years ago. And I’ve been working off of that ever since. 

Matt: Yeah, no, that’s a fantastic way to do it.

Um, well, whether it’s at a showcase or an ID camp or wherever you’re watching players, what is it that kind of makes up that, that hierarchy of things you’re looking for in a player, both on the field and off the field? 

Coach: Um, I’m definitely looking at attitude. of how they’re interacting with their, with their teammates.

Um, we don’t really go out looking for specific positions because most of the time they’re playing out of position anyway, or they don’t know their potential for us being a junior college. We have to see what the N. C. Double A. Or any high school is gonna want, um, out of this player and see if we can mold that kid.

with without changing the way he plays or her plays. Um, but just kind of progressing them thinking 18 months [00:06:00] ahead. So when we’re at these showcases, we’re looking for the right attitude of how they communicate with their teammates, how they communicate with the referee, how they communicate with their coach.

Because being doing this 20 years, I know the expectation of the N. C. Double a division one. And I’ve been only doing junior college. So my job is to be a stepping stone to get kids at that level. And every division one player that I’ve come across and coach every summer has a great head on their shoulder of professionalism.

So the talents are all out there. You can go to any showcase and see talent. Um, if you put your earbuds in and you just watch, you’re going to see it. But if you take those earbuds out and you’re listening, um, you could kind of cipher through the players that have the most potential and the ones who just don’t have the mentality.

Matt: Well, in a lot of times when recruits are looking to potentially go that two year route, it’s because of the possibilities for moving on after those two years. So how has that worked at STLCC? Uh, of the players who, Have wanted to move on, had good looks, or what do you guys do to help ensure that they have those options when their two years are over?

Coach: I think we’ve established ourselves, the culture of this program. This is a rebuild. I took it over over COVID. It hasn’t really been a true program in a very long time. Um, so I’m trying to rebuild it the way I had done my previous college. the [00:07:30] four years coaches when they know what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and the method you’re doing it, then there’s a pipeline into those four years schools.

So, I mean, we have, we have coaches that call us, you know, from, from new york to california down to down south florida and everywhere in between during the preseason. Who should we be looking at this year? Um, because the players that come out of here, they’re expecting to place that pays something. I do not have full rights here and I 10 to not bring anybody in here who’s looking for full rides because it’s unrealistic to move on and get that.

So that’s number 1. Number 2, kids that actually are going to get a GPA close to 3. 0 or better are the ones. Those are the gems. So if you have those kids, I guarantee they’re going to be 1st team all conference 1st team all region because they just get it. Um, and the 4 year schools like that. So when they start calling every year and you can have a continuous top level players that have plus 3.

0 GPAs have the mentality and have the talent. It’s easier recruiting for them. And then it’s easy recruiting for us to reset the program. Right. So, um, that’s the culture that we have. And that’s why, yes, it is easy to get kids to go D one out of here, but not all of them are at the level. We have kids that played in the NAIA, uh, elite eight national championship.

We had a kid go to UMKC, two kids go to UMKC this year. They almost, you know, knocked off Pittsburgh and the elite eight, the division one, those guys were just here several months ago, uh, play a futsal in the gym. So they [00:09:00] can, uh, like I tell recruits, like literally what I told last week, you can go to those levels if the 18 months you’re here, you’re all in.

Um, but it doesn’t have to be that either. We have some kids that are, uh, top level players that are choosing to go to a nice high school. Division two school in South Carolina because the campus is beautiful to keep the majors there. They really like the coaches. And I think that’s the difference too, is after you play two years in a good environment, the kids just want to replicate that environment.

They want to go where a coach cares about him. They want to go play with teammates that feel like they’re a family. And then they realize this went fast. And I tell them the next two years are going to get faster. So make sure that you just enjoy it, uh, the most that you can. You don’t want to go and sit junior year and ride the bench.

Doesn’t, then all of this was a waste, right? So even players who want to go at a higher level, we want to push them into places where they’re going to play and where they’re going to adjust to the environment. And we’ll find a fit wherever they are at that time. And I tell them, I say, listen, even after you go to that level, You’re still not your peak yet.

You’re not going to peak it to your 22, 23 years old. Like I said, I coached semi pro in the summer. The average age is 22, 23 years old. They’re just peaking at that time. And we’ve had players come in and then continue to go professional. So, um, I said, just find the place where you’re going to get that degree.

So set yourself up when soccer is over because soccer will be over at some point. And the education is your background is your backup [00:10:30] plan, right? Um, which is really your long term. So they get it by the time they leave. And most of them don’t get it when they 1st roll into preseason. And it is what it is.

This generation is just different lately. 

Matt: True, true. Um, well, well, let’s talk a little bit more about the, the school. Um, you, you’ve been there since 2020. Kind of, what are some things that you found that are awesome about the school? Maybe some things we wouldn’t even know by going through the website.

Coach: It’s slowly improving, uh, within the athletic department, uh, they’re getting coaches, for example, to full time, which allows us to put more time into this instead of having 3 different part time jobs like I’ve had in the past, pretty much my whole career. Um, they’re putting 14M dollars into the athletics, uh, facilities here in St.

Louis. So we’re getting a brand new state of the art, uh, soccer field along with baseball and softball. That’ll be ready by the end of, uh, this fall season coming up. Um, we have, uh, at St. Louis, I have two other, uh, assistant coaches that help with both programs and you know, pretty much just kind of building our routines and creating the relationships with the players.

Every coach has a different role. Uh, here. Um, and it’s just like 18 months. That’s our job is to serve the player. So once we decide who has the utmost potential, we’re serving them from then on out, because we’ve made that decision. And at the end of that year, if it’s not quite a fit. A [00:12:00] mutual deal. Then we also find them a new place where they’re going to be happy and successful.

So some things that you can’t see on our website. And that is what is the relationships like in the program? And what is the levels this year? We’re playing division 1 teams in the off season, um, as well as any as well as division 3. We, we, we play everybody and, uh, the more games, the better. Uh, when you come here and, uh, in terms of competitive schedule, you’re not going to see any JV games on our schedule.

Uh, other coaches in our area like to put six teams of JV games and why are you going to a junior college just to be as a stepping stone to play? So we actually have one of the strongest strength of schedules in the nation for men and women. Uh, I would know that I’m on one of the committees for that stuff.

Um, so for the men and women, we’re in the top three in the nation of the hardest schedule in the country. So we do not go undefeated. We usually have at least two or three losses every year guaranteed. Otherwise I’m upset with my assistants because it’s too easy of a schedule. So we really do try to push our players so that when we do get to the national tournament, they’ve already faced adversity and they can actually just focus on, uh, on playing.

Matt: Well, rewind back to, you know, October, kind of just the heart of the season, kind of walk me through what does a typical week look like for a player in terms of winter practices, meals, classes, games, all that stuff. 

Coach: to get. So on the men’s side, everybody’s done by noon at the latest because they start training at one [00:13:30] o’clock.

So the men are training somewhere between one and three o’clock every day. Game days are Wednesdays and Saturdays. It’s the same for the women, except they train after the men. So the men, the women come rolling in about 2 30. Um, so they can go to class a little longer and they get They get their warm up in about 2 30, and as they’re ready to get on, the guys are already off cooling down and on their way to the weight room or study hall.

Um, that is an expectation of our athletics is you’ll put in 3 hours of study all every week. Whenever you show the grades, you show that you’re, you’re doing well, you’re attending class that we can take some of that study hall time away. But again, it’s just to prepare you. For when you leave here to have good study habits and good, um, kind of, uh, uh, procedures, you know, and how you’re going to be a student athlete.

So we’re a little bit harder on them here. Uh, so it feels a little bit easier when you move on. So, uh, you wake up in the morning, go to class, get a bite to eat, you train, you got study hall, you work out maybe a little bit every other day. You go to sleep. It starts over the next day. Your off day is Sunday.

Um, we don’t do anything on Sundays typically. And then as the season’s going, if, um, we feel there’s a, there’s a, there’s a time to go ahead and take an off day, then there will be a second off day that week. Um, we don’t want to over train. So it just depends on how the team is doing and how we felt those matches were for that weekend.

Matt: Okay. Well, [00:15:00] um, let’s talk a little, a little bit more about the team. I mean, it sounds like, you know, you’re, you said you’re scheduling that strong strength of schedule, not playing JV team. So safe to, safe to say you’re not a community college that’s running a 60 man roster with a JV team. So what, what do you feel is kind of the ideal roster size, the roster size you’re trying to hit?

Coach: We always try to be around 28 because once you go postseason, that goes down to 24, you turn in your roster. There’s always somebody that’s injured at some point in the season. Um, it may not be a serious injury, but it may be like a pulled muscle. That’s like a four week out, but you don’t want to waste your eligibility and things like that.

Right. So, um, we, we can register injured and. So, but then you still need to have numbers to get into that postseason schedule. So, 28 is our number we try to go after. And then that usually, like I said, that’s with two or three goalkeepers. So, try to get every, maybe one or two players in every, or two players in every position.

is ideal in a few spots, maybe three, but we try to stay under that 28 number. 

Matt: Okay. Well, you mentioned you, you do have assistants, uh, working for you kind of talk to me about, uh, who they are, what their roles are, and maybe some, any other support staff that are in the athletic department or throughout the school that help out with the team.

Coach: Yeah, Allie Condor and Todd Wallace are my, are my current two assistants that I have and, you know, Todd is handling a lot of fitness room [00:16:30] stuff and the daily operations of training. He comes out every single session and he’s rocking with me. Allie does the same on the women’s side. She’s just been promoted to also be the assistant on the men’s side because she did such an amazing job on the women’s side this year.

So Todd and Allie are going to be my full, uh, full time assistants on both programs. Allie, he’s handling a lot of the, uh, in load, uh, of recruits from emails. I do a lot of forwarding to her and then she ciphers through and we talk about it each week about players. Um, I have a lot of trust in my staff, um, a lot, my whole career, I’ve leaned on an assistant coach to do all of the recruiting and then he brings it to me.

And then says, I like this kid. I like, you know, and so that’s the way I am. I try to put a lot of trust into my staff so that it’s, it’s an us decision, not a me decision. Even in games, um, I bounce things off and this is what I’m thinking. And we make sure it’s cyphering through the mistakes ahead of time and devil’s advocate kind of thing.

And, uh, so the whole staff is a part of it. And then the players see that they have a lot of trust. And the program itself, because there’s a lot of eyes and a lot of thoughts on every decision we make. Um, and I think that’s important in case I get it wrong. I like to have assistants that feel confident to call me out and say, I think we should put this person in, or maybe we should do this coach.

And they all feel comfortable to do that. I’ve always tried to be that guy that, that gives them that, that opportunity to learn. [00:18:00] 

Matt: Yeah, no, I love it. Um, well, what about you? How would you describe kind of your style of coaching and the style of play you’re looking to play there? 

Coach: I’m pretty much. Pretty much a matter of fact.

I mean, like, just kind of say it how it is and the expectations. And this is what we’re doing as a team. This is the tactic. Let’s get at it. And then we get into a few training sessions to learn that particular tactic, because in Juco, everything starts over. So once preseason comes in, you’re starting over again.

It’s like groundhog day. So every year, um, and you grow as a coach from it too, because then you’re like, you know what, I want to, I want to increase things here. This didn’t work last year. So I will, I will put it out there. I said, Hey, we’re going on with this. If I get it wrong, I’ll be the 1st 1 to tell you it was my fault.

We didn’t get the results. So this way, the players are like, all right, we’re going to follow the lead of the coach. This is what we’re doing. And 9 out of 10 times we get it right and it builds their confidence. So, um. I’m a players coach because like I said, it’s serve mentality. I’ve had a lot of NCAA offers to go coach, uh, all over the country, but just wanted to raise a family here in St.

Louis. And this particular job allows me to be a dad and pick them up from school and drop them off. So this, that’s a part of me too. And when the players come in, I say, I’m going to treat you like I will treat my, my son or daughter when they’re at that age, all of them are under 13 years old now, so they’re still young, but.

I said, that’s how I’m going to treat you. Um, and respect you. [00:19:30] And like I said, I chose you to be here. So you can do it. You can do these tactical things. These high level stuff. So I will push them. Um, I will try to push them to their ultimate level. Academically and athletically. Um, but I’m not a let, I’m not a yeller.

Uh, I’m not a guy that’s, uh, Screaming in trainings and all of that, because I feel like if I’m doing that, then I didn’t teach you right. Um, but the other coaches kind of do that in the preliminary training sessions that we’re doing, uh, it’s kind of get on some players who consistently may maybe make a mistake or 2, but it’s just not my style.

Um, I’m a coach development, uh, minded person. Like I said, coaching semi pro as development junior college is all developing to get you to the next level. So, um, that’s, that’s kind of where I’m at. If you come in and play for me, that’s what you’re going to. 

Matt: Okay, awesome. Well, in terms of that development, you got the fall season, but then you got that spring, uh, training time.

So what does your spring season look like? 

Coach: So spring will train three days a week. Um, we have a good partnership with Athletic Republic here in ST louis. It’s a place where a lot of top level athletes go to get speed and performance, agility, strength training that pretty much starts at the end of our season.

After thanksgiving, our players dive into that and they start doing that on their own two or three days a week. And after about six weeks of that, they are frying ready and loaded for our spring season. When our spring season [00:21:00] rolls around. That’s where we’re at 3 days a week outside training. Um, and they, they, they drop down to 2 nights a week at speed and performance training.

We unfortunately, we don’t have a speed and force, uh, speed and performance coach yet at our program. But, but it is built in our culture here in our program that we need it. When they go there, they see the other 4 year schools there too. So, now they realize why they have to be there. And so we don’t go 5, you know, it’s more of individual.

Need some players need to put on some weight. Some players need to get better shape and those extra days allow that to happen. My staff has already offered like to do one on ones and things like that. So the spring is to try to enhance the players level and get them ready for the following fall, whether that be at a four year school or returning sophomore.

Matt: Okay. Awesome. Well, coach, really appreciate your time. Gonna leave you with one last question. Uh, if you had a piece of advice for anybody going through this recruiting process, what would that be? 

Coach: I would say, uh, if you really do know that that school is where you want to be, just be very persistent. Um, you know, don’t just hit in one part of the year hitting all four parts of the year to get in touch with that coach.

You know, there’s so many emails of players that send us probably 100 a week of players that want to come and sometimes you’re going to get missed. Sometimes you’re not. Sometimes the coach is just looking at the computer all day and they’re going to go through every email, but you will get [00:22:30] overlooked if you’re only going through one method.

Um, I had players DM me on social media and had, and I was like, and immediately. I get alert on my phone that I wouldn’t normally get via an email and as a player that’s wanting to come in and try out and I’m like you know what we got tomorrow come on come on and train at futsal and that was off a direct message social media so use every platform that you can if you really want to be at that school and don’t take it as a negative if you’re not getting replies yet um until you’ve exhausted it all all right and when you do finally get in touch with that coach Ask that coach some serious questions about how they will treat you.

And once they say, I like you, I want you to come follow up with, okay, where are you going to play me? And why do you want to play me there? And if they don’t, if they can’t go into detail of why I liked it, I like, because you’re always attacking with your left foot on here. So I want to play you on the right.

I have this other player coming in. Who’s going to be someone that you can slot in if they have a true plan. You’re in the right place, but if you’re just a number, like, oh, I just like the way you attack, you know, so ask specific questions and see if you get specific answers. And if you do, you’re in the right place.

Matt: Yeah, great advice. Well, coach, I really appreciate it. Wish you the best of luck as you, uh, keep hammering at those recruiting classes for the fall and hopefully you’ll continue to keep improving that program. 

Coach: Yeah. 

Matt: Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you.