TOLEDO, Ohio – Santiago Garcia has been hired as an assistant coach with the University of Toledo baseball team, Head Coach Rob Reinstetle announced on Tuesday.
 
Garcia most recently spent two years at the University of Houston as the Assistant Director of Player Development, helping the Cougars to two NCAA Regional appearances. He will work with Toledo's catchers, assist with hitting and serve as the program's camp coordinator.
 
"I very excited to announce Santiago Garcia as our new assistant coach," said Reinstetle. "Santi was a really good player and has a tremendous amount of knowledge from his time at the University of Houston. He is organized, driven, and a very energetic person to be around. All are outstanding traits to have in a young coach and the reasons why we brought him into the program. Santi will do a fantastic job connecting with and mentoring our catching group."
 
While a part of Houston's staff, Garcia worked with hitting, baserunning and offensive scout and strategy with the Cougars. He assisted the Cougars in their transition from The American into the Big 12 from the 2023 to the 2024 seasons.

"I am extremely excited and honored to be joining Coach Reinstetle's staff here at the University of Toledo," said Garcia. "I look forward to pouring into these student-athletes and helping them develop and find success on and off the field. I also look forward to helping the University of Toledo baseball program get back to a championship pedigree and winning MAC titles."
 
At Houston, Garcia's hitters totaled five all-conference selections over his two seasons on staff. Zach Arnold and Justin Murray were each named to the AAC's First Team in 2023. Murray and Cary Arbolida were each selected Second Team All-Big 12, and Harold Coll was given an honorable mention in 2024.
 
As a team, the Cougars' hitters batted .290 in 2023, slugging 73 home runs, 114 doubles and stealing 112 bases, en route to a 36-23 season and a run of three wins in the AAC Tournament. In 2024, UH's first in the Big 12, the Cougars hit .270, raising their home run total to 78, along with 104 doubles and 78 stolen bases.
 
Garcia's coaching career came after a successful five years as a player between Alabama State (2018-21) and Houston (2022). With Alabama State, he was a two-time ABCA/Rawlings All-Southeast Region selection. He was twice named the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year, took two First-Team All-Conference awards and helped the Hornets to the league regular-season titles in 2018 and 2019. Garcia was also named to the 2022 AAC All-Tournament Team after helping the Cougars reach the title game.
 
The Enterprise, Ala. native graduated with his bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2021 and with his Master's degree in Global Retailing from Houston in 2023.
 
Garcia joins the Rockets as they prepare for the 2025 season, which begins on Friday, Feb. 14 at Oregon.