Nick Garcia
Encyclopedia
Nick Garcia is an American
soccer player who grew up playing for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club
and most recently played for Toronto FC
in Major League Soccer
.
in Dallas, Texas, Nick won the TAPPS state boys soccer championship, the first and second in their history. He was also all-district, all-state and all-tournament. Garcia won the 1996-97 Gatorade
National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award, as well, while starring for powerhouse youth club Dallas Texans
. Garcia played college soccer
at Indiana University
, leading Indiana to the consecutive national titles
in 1998 and 1999, and was named All-American
in his final season.
) in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
by the Kansas City Wizards
.
Garcia subsequently played in - and started - almost 200 games for the Wizards between 2000 and 2007. He helped the Wizards win the MLS Cup
in 2000
, and the US Open Cup in 2004.
He joined the San Jose Earthquakes
as their captain upon their return to MLS in 2008. In early 2009 Garcia signed a multi-year contact with San Jose, but was traded (along with the rights to Canadian international Ali Gerba
) to Toronto FC
on June 9, 2009 for a 3rd round pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft
.
After the 2010 MLS season Toronto declined Garcia's contract option and he elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
. Garcia became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft.
in 1999 and earned his first cap
for the full national team
on January 18, 2003, against Canada
. So far, he has amassed six caps for the United States.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who grew up playing for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club
Dallas Texans Soccer Club
Dallas Texans Soccer Club is one of the top youth soccer clubs in the United States. Founded in 1993 by Hassan Nazari, the club has produced many players who have played professionally at various levels in the U.S. and overseas, including US National Team Star Clint Dempsey...
and most recently played for Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Youth and College
As a junior and senior at Bishop Lynch High SchoolBishop Lynch High School
Bishop Lynch High School is a co-educational Catholic high school founded by the Dominican Order in east Dallas, Texas . It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas. It opened in 1963 with 365 students and now has over 1,000 students. In keeping with its Dominican tradition, the school...
in Dallas, Texas, Nick won the TAPPS state boys soccer championship, the first and second in their history. He was also all-district, all-state and all-tournament. Garcia won the 1996-97 Gatorade
Gatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award, as well, while starring for powerhouse youth club Dallas Texans
Dallas Texans
-American football:*Dallas Texans , 1952 team in the National Football League*Dallas Texans , 1960–1962 team that is now the Kansas City Chiefs*Dallas Texans , 1990–1993 Arena Football League team-Ice hockey:...
. Garcia played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
, leading Indiana to the consecutive national titles
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
in 1998 and 1999, and was named All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
in his final season.
Professional
Garcia signed with Project-40 and MLS in 2000, and was drafted second overall (behind Steve ShakSteve Shak
Steve Shak is a retired American soccer player. He is currently an assistant coach with the Charlotte Eagles of the USL Second Division....
) in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
2000 MLS SuperDraft
The 2000 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:...
by the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
.
Garcia subsequently played in - and started - almost 200 games for the Wizards between 2000 and 2007. He helped the Wizards win the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
in 2000
Major League Soccer 2000 season
-Final standings:*Top eight teams with the highest points clinch play-off berth, regardless of conference.s = Supporters Shieldx = Clinched Playoff berth.- Overall :Source:...
, and the US Open Cup in 2004.
He joined the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
as their captain upon their return to MLS in 2008. In early 2009 Garcia signed a multi-year contact with San Jose, but was traded (along with the rights to Canadian international Ali Gerba
Ali Gerba
-Canada/United States:In 2000 Gerba signed with the Montreal Impact where he recorded 6 goals and 2 assists, a club record for a rookie. In 2001 Gerba signed with the Miami Fusion of the MLS but had little success in Miami...
) to Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
on June 9, 2009 for a 3rd round pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft
2010 MLS SuperDraft
The 2010 MLS SuperDraft was the eleventh annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It was held on January 14, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 2010 NSCAA Convention. The 2010 SuperDraft consisted of four rounds with sixteen selections each, for a total of 64 players...
.
After the 2010 MLS season Toronto declined Garcia's contract option and he elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
The two-stage 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 8, 2010 and December 15, 2010. The Stage 1 Draft of the Re-Entry Process took place on Wednesday, December 8, at 2 p.m. ET via teleconference. The Stage 2 Draft took place on Wednesday, December 15, at 2 p.m. ET...
. Garcia became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft.
International
Garcia captained the US Under-20 national team at the World Youth Championship in NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in 1999 and earned his first cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the full national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
on January 18, 2003, against Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
. So far, he has amassed six caps for the United States.
Personal life
Garcia is married to wife Melinda. They welcomed their first child Cruz in early 2009.Kansas City Wizards
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
(1): 20042004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:Eight PDL and eight USASA teams start.-----Second round:Six PSL and two A-League teams enter.... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
MLS Cup (1): 2000 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Supporters' Shield (1): 2000 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Western Conference Championship (1): 2004
Toronto FC
- Canadian ChampionshipCanadian ChampionshipThe Canadian Championship—known as the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for sponsorship reasons—is an annual soccer tournament contested by premier Canadian professional teams...
(1): 20092009 Canadian ChampionshipThe 2009 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2009...
, 20102010 Canadian ChampionshipThe 2010 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2010...