A San Benito CISD middle school athletic director is getting national recognition for his work on and off the field.

Felix Villalpando is the athletic director at Riverside Middle School, where he coaches soccer, football, golf, and track.

ABC's Good Morning America named him among the first five coaches across the country to be highlighted as part of Mazda's "Coaches Who Move Us" initiative, which recognizes coaches who make a difference for their students and families.

His efforts supporting students in all of their extracurricular activities earned him a free Mazda SUV.

"I found this place to be my purpose for what I want to do. It is my passion, and it is the kids I can relate to," Villalpando said. "I can really help them excel in life."

Villalpando has spent 18 years at Riverside Middle School. He still shows up at former students' events to cheer them on and says that support is personal.

"My mom worked three jobs at one time, and she couldn't be at our games," Villalpando said. "I grew up with that style... me, my sister, and my brother, we wanted to make sure that we did better."

One of his current students says having Villalpando as a coach has made a real difference.

"He is a big role model to me," student Emiliano Carranza said. "Ever since elementary school I heard that he is the guy; he is the one who will be making us better and preparing us."

Carranza says Villalpando's mentorship has helped him build confidence.

"Just don't give up," Carranza said. "If we give up, then all the hard work was for nothing."

Villalpando says his wife will actually be the one driving the new SUV.

"That will be my wife's car, and as soon as I saw it, that was going to be her car," Villalpando said. "She drives the kids around. She drives our kids and their teammates around, and she deserves a car, and as I mentioned before, she helps us coach."

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