Advertisement

State Boys Basketball: Sickles' Renaldo Garcia on the brink of another landmark

 
Published March 3, 2017

Renaldo Garcia has had pivotal roles in helping basketball programs at the high school and college level achieve significant milestones.

He was a starter for Tampa Catholic in 1985 when the program went to the state semifinals for the first time. Four years later, Garcia was starting for Florida when it beat LSU on the road to clinch a share of the school's first Southeastern Conference title.

In 2010, Garcia coached Sickles High to its first state semifinal appearance.

There have been other watershed moments throughout Garcia's career, chief among them his induction into Tampa Catholic's athletic hall of fame and recording his 300th win as coach of the Gryphons last season.

All are big moments. All are memorable.

Now, Garcia is after another benchmark: a state title.

He has led Sickles back to the final four in Lakeland, where his team faces Lakewood Ranch in a Class 8A state semifinal today. If the Gryphons win, they play in Saturday's state championship game at 5:30 with a chance to win the school's first title and the first for a Hillsborough County public school in basketball since Plant City in 1982.

"That would be something, wouldn't it?" Garcia said.

He knows there can be stumbling blocks along the way.

As a player at Tampa Catholic, Garcia sprained his ankle in the region final and was not at full strength when the Crusaders lost to eventual champion Riviera Beach Suncoast in the 1985 state semifinals.

After winning a share of the SEC title in 1989, Garcia and his teammates had their season end with a loss to Colorado State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

Garcia came closest to winning a title as a coach in 2010 when Sickles beat Niceville in the semifinals before losing to Bartow in the championship game.

"As a player the toughest thing is taking off that jersey for that last time," Garcia said. "It's just as tough when you're a coach and watch your players do it. Everyone knows. Everyone understands. But you learn and grow from that."

Garcia had plenty of mentors to help shape his coaching style. His father, Rigoberto Garcia, was a longtime coach at Nathan B. Young Middle School and is in the Tuskegee University athletic Hall of Fame.

Garcia's high school coach, Gordon Gibbons, went on to become a three-time Sunshine State Conference coach of the year at Florida Southern in Lakeland. The two still talk on a weekly basis.

At Florida, Garcia was coached by Norm Sloan, Don DeVoe and Lon Kruger, all of whom had success with the Gators and other programs.

The philosophy Garcia adheres to is a focus on defense, something that the Gryphons will need to neutralize Lakewood Ranch's high-flying offense.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

The attention to detail starts in the gym.

"We have pretty intense practices,'' Sickles senior guard Marcus Cohen said. "Coach Garcia makes sure that we bring a lot of energy from the jump and that it continues throughout."

Garcia's influence also extends beyond the court.

"He's the best coach a player could play for in my opinion," Cohen said. "He has helped me develop as a player and make the right decisions as well as care for me on and off the court, like a second father to me."