Asst. football coach arrested
By Crystal Forester
Staff Reporter

University athletic officials are investigating facts before disciplinary action could be taken against assistant football coach Willie Mack Garza, who was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Saturday morning, Athletics Media Relations Director Steve Fink said Monday.

Garza, who was involved in a car accident, was arrested on suspicion of failure to stop and render aid with bodily injury and driving while intoxicated (DWI), Forest Hill Police Department Sgt. Sharon Sexton said.

Athletics Director Eric Hyman said he spent Monday talking to different people trying to get as much information as possible about the accident. He also said he had a meeting with Garza Monday.

“We’re in the process of analyzing and evaluating it to determine the university’s course of action,” he said. “We’re trying to gather the facts.”

Fink said Monday morning that Garza would be involved in team meetings. Later Monday, Fink said he did not know whether or not Garza attended those meetings. The football team did not practice Monday, Fink said.

Fink said they will know by the end of the week what disciplinary actions will be taken against Garza and whether or not he will attend the game Saturday against Arizona.

Hyman would not comment about when or what the consequences will be for Garza. Head coach Gary Patterson could not be reached for comment Monday.

Sexton said the accident happened at 1:20 a.m. Saturday. Garza was driving a 2003 Jeep Liberty westbound in the 3500 block on Southeast 820 when he hit a retaining wall and crashed into another car, Sexton said.

Garza left the scene and was intercepted in the 4500 block of South Riverside Drive by a Forest Hill city police officer after a witness followed Garza’s car, Sexton said.

It was decided Saturday that Garza would not be present during the football game that night against Vanderbilt University, Fink said.

“At that point we felt he had a lot of issues in his personal life that he needed to take care of,” Fink said.

Hyman said Patterson met with Garza Saturday and Patterson decided Garza would not attend the game.

The football team stayed at the Holiday Inn South in Fort Worth Friday night before the game, Fink said. Unlike the players, the coaches do not have to obey a curfew, he said.

According to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office, the criminal penalty for a class A misdemeanor, like a DWI, can be up to a $4,000 fine, one year in prison and 24 months of probation. Failure to render aid can be classified as either a class A or B misdemeanor or a felony.