Monroe University Bronx

Marien Garcia joined the Express men's volleyball program as its head coach in June of 2024. Garcia has turned this program into a national contender on the court and an academic powerhouse.

In 2026, Monroe went 18-15. The Express won a playoff match to earn a berth in the Region 15 Semifinals. Thanks to Monroe's strong season, the Blue and Gold earned an at-large bid into the inaugural NJCAA Men's Volleyball Championship Tournament. The Express won a thrilling match in five sets over Borough of Manhattan Community College during the national tournament to earn seventh place overall in the country. Monroe was ranked as high as No. 7 in the NJCAA National Poll during the season. Three of Garcia's players earned all-region recognition including Darren Lopez who was named a first-team honoree. Frandie Martin was selected to the NJCAA All-Tournament team. On the academics side, Monroe was named the NJCAA Men's Volleyball Academic Team of the Year for earning a GPA of 3.25 as a unit during 2025-26. Garcia's team also received an NJCAA Academic Team Award. Eleven of his student-athletes were named to the Region 15 All-Academic team, six earned NJCAA All-Academic team kudos (including Express setter/outside hitter David Garcia being recognized as an NJCAA All-Academic first team honoree), and three landed on the Eastern Athletic Communications Association Academic Honor Roll. 

In 2025, Coach Garcia helped the Express reach new heights during his first year as head coach. Monroe won its first regional postseason match in program history against Kingsborough on March 25 to earn a berth in the Region 15 Semifinals. The Express also competed in the NJCAA Men's Volleyball National Invitational. He coached and mentored Mickey Mingo who was named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District College Division At-Large team, the NJCAA All-Academic second team, and the Eastern Athletic Communications Association Academic Honor Roll. Three of his student-athletes were named to the Region 15 All-Academic team. 

Prior to Monroe - Bronx, Garcia served as head coach for the Hostos Commununity College women's volleyball team during the 2023-24 season. A year prior to that, he was the assistant women's volleyball coach for the Caimans. 

In addition to leading the Monroe Express, Garcia is also the head coach of the Girls' Regional, Premier, and National Program at Legacy Volleyball Club, a position he has held since 2021. 

Garcia started playing volleyball at 12 years old. His dedication and enthusiasm led him to be a leader in high school with two championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Starting with his junior year, Garcia was selected to practice and be part of the infantile pre-national Dominican team from 2003 until 2005.

In addition to his high school success, Garcia played youth volleyball for the BAMESO Volleyball Club as an outside hitter. As captain, he led the team to the finals two times in a row in each category in the National District Club Championship in the Dominican Republic.

Following high school, he maintained himself playing in adult leagues and got involved with adult team/clubs as part of the administrative staff organizing different tournament modalities (beach, indoor, and grass volleyball). He also served in coaching capacities as both the head and assistant coach for numerous club teams.
 
Garcia has spent multiple years coaching club volleyball programs and organizing summer camps and clinics. His passion for the game and for student-athletes motivates him to continue helping individuals to grow up as better people and athletes.
 
Professionally, Garcia is an industrial engineer with a master's degree in occupational health & safety, and he holds a postgraduate degree in radiation protection and the safety of radiation sources (PGEC).