Garcia trades pads for clipboard on Outlaws’ sideline

During the better part of an illustrious career in the Arena Football League, quarterback Aaron Garcia wrote his kids’ initials on his arm before each game.

But once the league’s career passing leader retired from the game last season and then became coach of the Las Vegas Outlaws, he knew he couldn’t scribble on his arm in ink any longer. So he had the kids’ initials tattooed on his forearm.

Now, Garcia, who threw for 62,180 yards in 19 seasons, is hoping he can tattoo the success he’s had on the Outlaws, who begin their inaugural season at 7:30 p.m. Monday against the San Jose SaberCats at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“I think we have our own brand of football, and hopefully we can reach out to that in Vegas,” Garcia said. “It’s been fun, starting at 5:30 or 6 in the morning and ending around 10, 11 o’clock at night. There are some frustrations involved, but there’s never a time I wish I was doing something else other than maybe spending time with my kids.”

His kids’ influence might be the reason he is the Outlaws’ coach.

Garcia played for 11 teams from 1995 to 2014 and was a three-time first-team All-AFL selection. He was the Arena Bowl Most Valuable Player in 2011 after leading the Jacksonville Sharks to a 73-70 win over the Arizona Rattlers. In 2012, he was voted No. 3 among the league’s 25 greatest players.

But through it all, his friends and colleagues were constantly telling him that he had taken too many hits and should consider retirement. He never listened to them, scoffing at the notion that his body had taken too much abuse.

Then his kids got ahold of him.

“It finally came down to (them) saying, ‘Dad, that’s enough,’ ” Garcia said. “I have three incredible kids, and one on the way. The kids come first … and they are by far the reason I do this.”

Garcia, 44, is not shy about where is priorities lie, with faith and family atop the list and football close behind. His players know it, too.

But that’s not to say he isn’t focused on his new gig, the tough task of not only coaching in a league in which he starred for so long, but also helping rock ‘n’ roll legend Vince Neil build Las Vegas’ third AFL franchise. Long gone are the days that involved practices, getting treatment on his throwing arm and watching game film.

“You would like it to be just the film work and things like that, that go along with football, but in this league we’re responsible for a lot of other things as far as feeding the players, housing, things like that,” he said. “I’ve learned that I have to surround myself with the right people I can trust, and I have. I have a great staff here. I also have to be able to let some things go and let them do their job, but still be the leader that I feel like they brought me here to be. I have to stay positive, but at the same time have high expectations, first for myself and secondly the coaching staff and all the way down to the players.

“(You have) to treat these guys like professionals. And that’s gonna build something long term, because we’re going to have to go recruit other players to come to Las Vegas, and we want them to know that this is the type of place that they want to be in and spend six months out of their year.”

Garcia is adamant about infusing faith into his team. He said it has gotten him through a lot of tough times.

“That’s where this game I think came into play,” Garcia said. “(There was a point) the game wasn’t fun for me anymore. It tested me, my faith and everything at that point and time in my life. I was able to start playing arena football, kind of with some regret initially. You’re wanting to be in the NFL and things like that. And a lot of guys come to this game that way. But then it really was so much fun for me and my family, and it brought that passion back.

“And I just realized God does things for a reason and puts you in places where you can succeed and also affect other people’s lives. Now I feel like I have that opportunity to do that with a group of 30 or 40 grown men. We’re trying to establish that faith within this team, whatever your spiritual background is, whatever you believe, to believe in something greater than us, and then also to believe in each other.”