Bamburg Named Eisenhower Head Coach: Garza Named Head Coach at MacArthur

Kerry Bamburg was named the new head football coach at Eisenhower High School, while Andy Garza was tabbed as the new head football coach at MacArthur High School by Aldine ISD Trustees during their June 11 Board meeting.

This will be the first head coaching job for both Bamburg and Garza.

Kerry Bamburg

Bamburg, a graduate of Aldine High School, served as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at Aldine High before being named the Eagles’ new head coach. He replaces Dre’ Thompson who was recently promoted and served as the Generals’ defensive coordinator for the last four years, replaces Bernie Mulvaney who left MacArthur to become athletic director of Goose Creek ISD.

Bamburg, 42, has 17 years of teaching and coaching experience and is a graduate of Texas A&M University. During his 17 years in the coaching profession, he has coached in Conroe ISD, and North Forest ISD. He served as the Mustangs’ defensive coordinator for the last four years. He has spent 14 of his 17 years in education with Aldine ISD.

Bamburg said he appreciates the chance given to him to run his own program.

“I want to thank the Board, Dr. (Wanda) Bamburg (no relation) and Dr. (Archie) Blanson for this opportunity,” Bamburg said. “I’ve been waiting a director of athletic services in the Aldine ISD athletic department. Garza, who long time to be a head coach and I am so excited about this job. I’m coming to a program that has a lot of tradition. We will work hard to live up to what’s been built here.”

In high school, Bamburg was coached by Bill Smith, one of the winningest head coaches in Class 5A history. He has also worked for Smith and said learning under him has been most beneficial.

“He’s one of the best ever and I was fortunate to play for him and work for him,” Bamburg said. “I learned so much from him about how to manage kids and people. Coach Smith did things the right way and he always got the best out of his kids and coaches.”

Bamburg, 42, said he plans on running the same spread offense the Eagles ran in the past few years under Thompson and will stick with the 3-4 defense.

“I’m a 4-3 (defense) guy, but because I’m coming in sort of late, we’ll keep on doing what they’ve done in the past. This is a good staff and I look forward to working with them.”

Bamburg and his wife Carrie have a son and a daughter.

Andy Garza

Garza, a graduate of Howard Payne University, said he was also appreciative of the opportunity to land his first head coaching job.

“I can’t thank the Board, Dr. Bamberg and Dr. Blanson enough for this chance,” he said. “I’m very excited about this opportunity. I’ve worked hard to put myself in the position to be a head coach and I’m ready for this.”

Garza has 11 years of coaching and teaching experience. Before coming to MacArthur in 2009, he taught and coached in Brady ISD and Natalia ISD before spending three years at Navarro College in Corsicana where he served the special teams coach.

Garza, 34, said having been a part of the MacArthur staff for the last four years will make the transition to head coach a smooth one for his staff and players.

“The kids know me and so does the staff, so that will help,” he said. “I believe in being on time and doing what’s right. You have to have a will to win.”

Garza said the Generals will continue to run the spread offense, but will employ a few more multiple looks during the 2013 season. Defensively things will remain the same.

“We have a good core of kids coming back on offense, but we only have three coming back on defense. We have some work to do on that side of the ball,” he said. “We’ll have to play our best core players and if that means some kids have to go both ways, then that’s what we’ll do.”
Garza, a native of San Antonio, was a member of the 1995 SA Roosevelt team that won the Class 5A Division II state title.

He and his wife Kathryn have a daughter and a son.Bamburg