Javelina Hall of Fame
Hector Salinas, selected to build the Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program when it was initiated in 1993, has been selected for induction into the Javelina Hall of Fame.
Salinas was named the Javelina head baseball coach when the intercollegiate program was started in the spring of 1993.
His team went 28-24 in that initial year and in his six years as head coach, the squads never had a losing campaign while compiling a 190-122 record.
Two of Salinas’ clubs won Lone Star Conference championships (1995 and 1998).
The 1998 team was selected for the NCAA Division II national playoffs, becoming the first Javelina club so recognized.
He was the LSC coach of the year in 1995.
Two of his players made NCAA Division II All-America: Juan Sanchez in 1995 and Steve Foley in 1998.
He coached six LSC players of the year and 25 of his players were All-LSC first team.
Salinas received a bachelor’s degree from Pan American University and has a master’s from Texas-Brownsville.
He coached at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for seven years after leaving the Javelinas in 1998 and is currently at Richard Milburn Academy High School in Corpus Christi.
A native of Elsa, he played at Corpus Christi Carroll High School before going to Pan Am where he was an All-America honoree.
He coached at Miller and Moody high schools in Corpus Christi and at Texas Southmost and Laredo Junior College before taking the position with the Javelinas.
Salinas is a member of the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame, the Leo Najo Hall of Fame and the Corpus Christi Moody High School Hall of Fame.
He and his wife, Thelma, are the parents of two sons and three daughters.
Son Orlando played and coached for the Javelinas and daughter Paula was a member of the Javelina softball team.
