TSC adding cross country for Fall ’25

Edward Severn | Special to RGVSports

BROWNSVILLE — The Rio Grande Valley long-distance runner is going to have more opportunities at home.

Texas Southmost College is adding cross country to its athletic program. The Scorpions will be coached by longtime Valley cross country coach Basilio Mendoza.

Mendoza was dragged out of retirement after coaching at Donna North, La Joya High, Valley View, Mission High, La Joya Palmview and Donna High for 23 years. The opportunity became apparent to Mendoza and he jumped on the honor of being able to start a program at TSC.

“I think our leaders had a responsibility, I felt, to make a junior college for cross country, volleyball, etc … our kids have to leave just to run so far away. I think this will be a really good chance for the kids more than myself,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza is eager to prepare for Fall 2025 with talented runners from the area. Mendoza ran collegiately in Ohio at the University of Findlay.

“We will see what happens here. I looked at the results from last year’s regional and I think we have a shot as long as we have the right kids,” Mendoza said. “I am really patient, I never wear a whistle and I never yell. I want to make sure the athletes are welcome here. Hopefully, it will work out.”

Mendoza is a little worried about the long drive, he said jokingly. He retired in Palmview, but coaching college was always something he wanted to do in life.

TSC Athletic Director, Dr. Armando Ponce said cross country was the next step in growing the program. When the Scorpions announced a return of athletics with soccer two years ago, there was speculation on what would be next.

“This is another sport that Valley athletes have a history of doing well at the state and collegiate level,” Ponce said. “So, with so much talent in the area we thought it’d be ideal to be the next sport we could offer.”

Ponce said he heard plenty of positive things about Mendoza during the hiring process.

“Everybody I asked in the cross country community told me that if there is one guy that you can get, it is coach Mendoza. Luckily for us, we were able to connect and bring him out of retirement. He has a lot of patient for athletes out of the Rio Grande Valley. He wants to see them succeed and he is right the person for the job,” Ponce said.

TSC competes at the NJCAA level where athletes have two years of eligibility.

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