HMK's Davila reaches win 300; Reflects on coaching career
A ball was hit to center field for the third and final out of H.M. King’s recent win over Runge, and Head Coach Michael Davila raised his hands in celebration.
Not only had the Brahma’s secured a 14-5 victory on March 19, but Davila was able to celebrate a career accolade, as he earned win 300 as a head coach.
Davila said he could not imagine being where he is, when his career started nearly 20 years ago.
HMK Head Coach Michael Davila (Middle) and his coaching staff. (Courtesy Photo)
“My career started in Benavides, TX in 2002 and I feel blessed to be at this point in my career,” Davila said. “I have never had a team that had big-time talent or experience, so all the coaches that I have had and myself, had to teach and really develop kids year-in and year-out.”
Davila said some of his most memorable games as a coach included every game where his team was counted out as the underdogs, but they would pull together and earn a victory.
Over the years, Davila has been a part of a few programs in the Coastal Bend: Benavides from 2002-05, Tuloso-Midway from 2005-14, Laredo College from 2015-19, and now at H.M. King.
In his tenure at each school, he was able to coach each program to a playoff appearance; in each case, their first in multiple years. Davila led Benavides to its first playoff appearance in more than 10 years in his first year as coach and led Tuloso-Midway to its first playoff appearance in more than 20 years in his fourth year at the program. While at Laredo College, his squad made the regional tournament for the first time in more than 10 years, while in his fourth year at the helm of the team.
This last year, Davila said he was excited to be able to coach the Brahmas in his first season. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to those plans, and he was saddened he couldn’t get the chance to coach those kids for a full season.
“After last year’s abrupt stop, I felt bad for the Seniors that did not get to finish the year and for the underclassman that did not get to learn our system and did not get to develop throughout the year,” Davila said. “I had doubts about reaching the feat, but I knew as soon as we got on the field we would get to 300.”
Coach Michael Davila with his family and the HMK Brahmas. (Courtesy Photo)
Fast-forward to this year, and reaching the milestone is a joy for Davila, but he understands that work still needs to be done as the 2021 season progresses. However, he is still grateful for the opportunity to continue donning a baseball cap every week with his team.
“I absolutely love to coach and I love to change the lives of our student-athletes,” Davila said. “This is a calling for me and to be able to share the knowledge that I have gained throughout the years is a blessing. I am grateful that KISD gave me the opportunity to lead and coach these student-athletes, and I love the fact that (win) 300 was accomplished in the black and gold.”
