By: Vincent Lombardi
SoAz Hoops Review
Izzy Galindo has made a huge impact on the Tucson Basketball Community since becoming the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Pueblo High School nearly 13 years ago. A job that normally cycles through coaches regularly, Galindo has stayed committed to doing what he loves to do, coaching Basketball. He started coaching at the age of 16.
He has built an impressive resume at Pueblo which includes reaching the State Championship Game twice, once in 2018 losing to Phoenix powerhouse Seton Catholic, and again in 2023 losing by 3 points to Flagstaff. “Those are two of my proudest moments not only because we made it to the Championship game, but being able to coach my daughter Ilyssa in 2018, and Sara in 2023.”
Also among coach Galindo’s proudest accomplishments is being able to coach a vast array of local star players such as daughter Ilyssa Diamond Galindo (4A Region Player of the Year 2018), and Summer Fox (4A Region Player of the Year 2019), both of whom earned D2 Scholarship offers. “I had some players that were some of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen. Alicia Reyes, Araceli Loya, Mariah Clark, Alexis Enriquez, Getsmani Cazares, and Victoria Cazares, were players that had a huge impact on the Pueblo program. They worked for everything they got.”
Pueblo’s current roster includes America Cazares (2026, which when it’s all said and done, may be the best player to ever come out of Pueblo.) “America seems to be natural. She’s smooth with everything she does and it looks like very little effort. Over my 30 plus years of coaching, I’ve probably coached 2 or 3 kids like her.” That speaks volumes.
Coach Galindo has a Career Record of 221-107. This year’s team has a tough challenge because Pueblo has moved up to 5A this year, but that hasn’t intimidated coach Galindo or his players. “I can honestly say that if we play the way we are capable of, we will be in the Final Four and another try at the State Championship. The 3rd time’s a charm.” If Pueblo does make it back to the Championship game, my money’s on Pueblo and coach Izzy. His persistence and commitment is bound to pay off.
Asked why he continues coaching in what is looked at by many as a “thankless” business, Coach Galindo says “It’s because I just love coaching and teaching the game of basketball. It’s like what I was meant to do.” Izzy Galindo will go down as a legend in the South Side of Tucson, as a man who committed his life to coaching and teaching our youth, and building a basketball powerhouse that has endured and will continue to endure as long as he is there.
