WATERLOO, Ont. — Laurier women's flag football is proud to announce the hiring of Ron Garcia as head coach for the 2025-2026 season. Coach Garcia, or "Coach Gars" as he is known in the flag football community,  brings an impressive blend of coaching experience, football acumen, and deep community roots to the program as it continues to grow and compete at a high level.

"I'm so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be the head coach for the Laurier women's football team," Coach Gars said. "I am truly honored and thrilled for this new challenge. I can't wait to meet everyone and start working together towards our goal of winning a championship."

Coach Gars takes on the role following an extensive history in both coaching and officiating. He previously coached with Football Ontario, winning the national championship for U18 women's tackle in 2023. He is a referee, officiating summer and high school football for the last 17 years, and was a sideline official working with the CFL, demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of the game from both sides of the whistle.

Over the past two years, he has served as the director and head coach of the Tri-City Vipers flag football program. Under his leadership, the Vipers expanded from a single team to eight competitive rep teams, becoming a central figure in the region's flag football scene. The name "Tri-City Vipers" holds personal meaning for Coach Gars — it was the name of the team he played on growing up, and he chose to bring it back as a tribute to his early football roots and the values that shaped him as a player.

His coaching journey began with a deeply personal motivation. When his young son was unable to join an existing football team due to his age, he volunteered to run the league  himself — and in the process, took over and restructured the entire youth league. That league now serves over 1200 participants annually in the Waterloo region, a testament to his vision, commitment, and ability to bring people together through sport.

The addition of Coach Gars has been met with high energy across the program. "Bringing Coach Gars onboard is an incredible moment for our program. His track record speaks volumes, but what really stands out is how driven and genuine he is," said the team's president. "We're thrilled to start this next chapter with someone who's as dedicated to development and community as he is to success on the field. The future of this team just got a whole lot brighter. I'm so excited to work with him and to officially welcome him into the Golden Hawk family."

Laurier's recreation team expressed excitement about Coach Gars' appointment, highlighting his leadership style and dedication to building community. His commitment to player development, communication, and the overall athlete experience will be instrumental in elevating the women's flag football program both on and off the field.

If you'd like to support the Laurier Women's Flag Football program, consider donating through the Adopt-A-Hawk page.