Erasmo “Mo” Molina leaves his mark on local basketball
Erasmo “Mo” Molina, head basketball coach for Marine Military Academy, will be inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association 2014 Hall of Honor on July 23 in San Antonio. Molina has coached basketball and taught history, government, and economics at several schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley for 40 years.
Prior to joining MMA in August 2006, he left his mark at Rio Hondo High School, San Benito High School, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School and McAllen Memorial High School.
Four years ago, Molina was inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame. Now, his career achievements will be recognized at the state level when he is inducted into the THSCA Hall of Honor.
“I am truly honored and privileged to be included among an elite group of individuals,” Molina said. “This is truly a humbling experience that marks the culmination of my coaching career.”
Molina is one of the Valley’s most accomplished basketball mentors. While at McAllen Memorial, Molina won 20 games eight times in 14 years and was seven-time Coach of the Year with over 430 wins. In addition to working as a government teacher and basketball coach at MMA, he was the special assistant coach for the RGV Silverados, a Continental Basketball Association team.
This distinguished coach served on the THSCA Board of Directors from 1993-96. Prior to that, Molina served on the THSCA Basketball Advisory Board. On a regional level, he served as president of the Rio Grande Valley Coaches Association and RGV Basketball Coaches Association.
Molina has been nominated to coach the THSCA South Basketball All-Star team four times. He was selected to coach the East squad in the RGVBCA All-Star Game in 2009 and 2010. He also coached the East squad in the RGVSports.com/RGV Vipers Showcase in 2010.
A writer in his spare time, Molina has penned numerous articles that have been published in Texas Coach magazine. He has lectured in several basketball clinics, including the South Padre Island Clinic and the Region 7 THSCA meeting at Texas A&M Kingsville.
A native of Edinburg, Texas, Molina earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Texas-Pan American. After teaching for one year, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era. He served for 2 and ½ years in Germany where he attained the rank of SP5. He began teaching and coaching again when he returned home.
When he is off the clock, Molina travels, plays golf, and spends time with his grandchildren Jaelen and Tristan. He also enjoys attending the games of his grown children — both of them are coaches! His son Brian is the head basketball coach at Harlingen High School South and his daughter Lyrissa is the head volleyball coach at La Joya High School. He has been married to his wife Liz for 40 years.
