Coach Roy Garcia was a longtime coach, athletic director, teacher, and administrator from Natchez Cathedral. Coach Garcia was born in Rolling Fork and earned college degrees at Hinds Junior College, Delta State, and Southern Miss. Roy began his three decades-plus career at St. Joseph High in Greenville where he coached football, basketball, and baseball. He completed his 35th year at Natchez Cathedral at time of MAC HOF induction. Versatile coach who led Cathedral to six consecutive tennis state titles from 1971-1976. He was selected as a National Coach of the Year after his 1973 football team finished with a school record mark of 9-1. He was named MAC Athletic Director of the Year in 1997.
In his honor for dedication to the school, Natchez Cathedral established a Roy Garcia Award for a senior student and named the school gym after him in January, 2002. Coach Garcia served as President of the MAC and has been active on the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. He actively participates in all MAC summer events including the All-Star games, coaching clinics, and banquets. In 2017, Coach Garcia was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.
Coach Garcia exemplifies the "best of the best" in high school athletics and coaching. In 2008, the MAC created the Roy Garcia Outstanding Coach Award which is given annually to an outstanding coach who has impacted the lives of students on and off the field, regardless of their win/loss record, exemplifying Coach Garcia's character.
Recipients of the Roy Garcia Award:
- 2009: Ronnie Cuevas
- 2010: Bill Ward
- 2011: James Sloan
- 2012: Johnny Pearson
- 2013: Hugh Long
- 2014: Harry Brown
- 2015: Bob Monroe
- 2016: Kenneth Murphy
- 2017: Joe Flynt
- 2018: Darrell Logan
- 2019: Mike Chambless
- 2020: No recipient selected due to Pandemic
- 2021: Howard McNeill
- 2022: James Denson
- 2023: Andy Richey
- 2024: Isaiah Peterson
