Former University of New Orleans pitcher Justin Garcia enters his fifth on the Privateers staff, and first as the team's Director of Baseball Operations.

Prior to the 2014 season, Garcia served as the team's pitching coach.

A member of the UNO baseball team from 2004 through 2008, Garcia spent two years pitching professionally at the Rookie and Single A level in the Kansas City Royals organization. The right-handed pitcher compiled an 8-7 record with a 3.32 ERA.

In 122 innings of professional experience, Garcia struck out 100 opposing batters with the Violet, La. native's best results came at the Rookie level as he was 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA for Idaho Falls.

Prior to signing with the Royals organization as an undrafted player in June 2008, Garcia was one of the anchors on former head coach Tom Walter's pitching staff that reached the NCAA Division I tournament in 2007 and 2008.

In 2008, Garcia went 6-2 with a 5.77 ERA while registering seven strikeouts on five separate occasions. Garcia struck out 73 that year while winning his first six decisions, including a complete game victory at Troy on Mar. 28, in which he carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning.

A big game pitcher for the Privateers, Garcia got the start in the 2007 SBC Championship game win over Louisiana-Lafayette on two days rest after throwing 100 pitches in UNO's tournament-opening victory. The previous year, Garcia went eight innings in a SBC tournament victory over Florida International.

UNO's career co-leader with 84 mound appearances, Garcia pitched 296 innings and struck out 224 opposing batters while winning 19 games.

Garcia prepped at Hannan High School.