Willie Mack Garza - Football Coach - Montana State University Athletics

Willie Mack Garza

Title:
Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Email:
Football@msubobcats.com
Phone:
(406)994-5694

The 2023 season marked Willie Mack Garza's second as Montana State's defensive coordinator and safeties/nickels coach. The Cats led the Big Sky in sacks, finished third in forced fumbles and fourth in interceptions in 2023 after his 2022 defense finished second in the Big Sky in sacks and forced fumbles and third in picks. Joining the Bobcats after coaching safeties at McNeese in 2020-21 and Wyoming in 2019, the former University of Texas star helped retool a Bobcat defense that had lost, among others, two players to the NFL Draft. He previously coached at Texas A&M Commerce (spring 2019), Dixie State (2017-18), Lamar (2016), Prairie View A&M (2015), and Pearl River Community College (2013-14). Garza earned Freshman All-America and Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year at Texas. His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Texas (1994-96), and included stops at Western Michigan (1997-2000), TCU (2001-03), Tarleton (2004), and North Dakota State (2005-08), where he first worked with Brent Vigen. In 2009 Garza accepted the role of secondary coach at Tennessee, and a year later held that same position at USC.

Personal Information
Hometown: Refugio, Texas
Education: Texas, ‘93
Player: Texas (1988-92)

Coaching Timeline
2022-23: Montana State, Defensive Coord./DBs
2020-21: McNeese, Safeties
2019: Wyoming, Safeties
2019 (Spring): Texas A&M Commerce, Defensive Backs
2017-18: Dixie State, Defensive Backs (Def. Coord. in 2018)
2016: Lamar, Cornerbacks
2015: Prairie View A&M, Linebackers/Special Teams Coord.
2013-14: Pearl River CC (Mississippi), Def. Coord./Def. Backs
2010: USC, Defensive Secondary
2009: Tennessee, Defensive Secondary
2005-08: North Dakota State, Defensive Backs (DC 2006-08)
2004: Tarleton State, Defensive Secondary
2001-03: TCU, Cornerbacks
1997-2000: Western Michigan, Defensive Secondary
1994-96: Texas, Graduate Assistant

Team Accomplishments
Montana State – 2023 - FCS Playoffs, 8-4 record. 2022 - Advanced to FCS Semifinals in 2022, Big Sky Champions, 12-2 record
Wyoming – 8-5 in 2020, Arizona Bowl Champions
USC – 8-5 in 2010
Tennessee – 7-6 in 2009, Chick-fil-A Bowl
TCU – 6-6 and Gallery Furniture Bowl in 2001, 10-2 and Liberty Bowl in 2002, 11-2 and Fort hWorth Bowl in 2003

Individual Achievements
Montana State – 2023 - MSU led the Big Sky in sacks and was tied for third in interceptions.
Tennessee – S Eric Berry All-America and fifth overall pick in 2010 NFL Draft by Kansas City Chiefs

All-Conf. Players Coached as Position Coach
2023: SS Rylan Ortt (HM)
2022: NI Ty Okada (2nd)
2019: SS Alijah Haliburton (1st)
2018: S Trayvon Watson (2nd)
2017: CB Jaylen Moore (2nd), CB Tyneil Cooper (HM), S Trayvon Watson (HM)
2016: Brendan Langley (1st), Xavier Bethany (2nd)
2010: TJ McDonald (2nd)
2009: Eric Berry (1st)

Playing Career
Played at Texas in 1988 and 1990-92, starting all four seasons in the secondary... 1988 Southwest Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year... intercepted six passes during his career, including two each as a freshman and sophomore