feature story by Bill Keltner
MARCH 21, 2012 • LA FERIA NEWS • 7
Coach Silva on the Right Track
Coach Juan Silva loves the challenge of teaching kids and seeing them succeed in life. This year he celebrates 28 years of doing just that at Santa Maria High School. It’s interesting that he is celebrating his 28 years as the High School celebrates its 20 years of existence in 2012, Juan Silva was born and raised in Santa Maria and finished his high school years in La Feria. That was because Santa Maria only had classes going through Junior High School. Students took their next four years in Mercedes, Progreso, or finally, La Feria. He graduated with the La Feria High School class of 1972. This modest fu-
ture coach played Mighty Lions Varsity football, lettering his Senior year. Early in his life, he knew that coaching sports was going to be his chosen field of endeavour, so he went on to get his Degree in Physical Education at Pan-American University in Edinburg. But he admits having had his fill of class work, he took a “Sabbatical from schools” as he expressed it, and worked at several unrelated jobs. But, the attachment to coaching and sports was too great. He returned to Santa Maria I.S.D.--this time as Track, Volleyball, Basketball and Softball Coach at his old school. “We played some 13 District 31-A schools in those
days,” he said. He was there when the current Santa Maria High School was built, and he simply cleaned out his locker and moved everything to his new post--Head Track Coach and Head Cross-Country Coach. “Now,” he said, “we were facing tougher varsity competition as far away as Benavides, Corpus Christi, and Kennedy, Texas--all Region 4-1A teams. “But, our teams played their hearts out, and we came back with many trophies,” he said, pointing to the proof in the school’s trophy case. “In 2010 we were the Regional Cross-Country Champs,” he enjoyed pointing out. The coach described his
2010 Regional Cross-Country Champions
Coach Silva teaches at Santa Maria where he started
annual challenge: “You see--it’s a new deal every year for coaches. You build up a winning team, and then your most experienced runners graduate--great for them, but a challenge not just for me in my school, but all coaches,” adding, “fortunately, we have some really great kids on the team this year.“ “I set very high expectations for my student athletes. I try to get each runner to do the best he possibly can, and then some,“ he said. “They go out there and perform before crowds and, many times, surprise themselves
and the ‘old coach.’” In addition to coaching, Coach Silva also has the responsibility of overseeing the Special Education Unit for the school. These are students with special needs because of their various disabilities. Right now he has three charges. “It is a very rewarding part of my work because the parents appreciate the personal attention and patience we give each student in the program,” he said. “Many fathers and mothers have told me how thankful they are for the progress and improvement they have seen in the
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wanted to add. Reflecting on his many years coaching, he said, “Some of my students have gone on to make us very proud at Colleges and Universities such as Texas A & M in Kingsville. One of them is Gregorio Carmona--a great athlete-He is doing everything right this year.” So, now you know: The next time you see a yellow Santa Maria School bus picking up kids for school, take a good look, for the driver might be the coach playing one of the many roles he does for the Santa Maria I.S.D.
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lives of their children.” “One more thing,” he added. “In a small school like Santa Maria you wear many hats. I am also the morning school bus driver and the afternoon Special Needs bus driver,” this busy man said. “They call me for just about anything the school needs,” he said. “ I’ve got 23 years doing this and plan to do it for many years more until I finally retire.” He said that his daughter, Gilma Silva, also works in the Santa Maria school system. “We get to see each other often--that is another plus for me,” he
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