Catching Up With: Longoria giving back to education field

By Paul Ebner

Sports Information Specialist

NOTE: During this time with the spring sports season canceled due to the corona virus pandemic, we take time to catch up with some of our UHV student-athlete alumni.

The University of Houston-Victoria proved to be a pathway to the future for former UHV baseball player John Longoria and now he is giving back to the education world.

Longoria graduated from UHV with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and now serves as an adjunct professor for the doctor of physical therapy program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Austin.

"I discovered what I was passionate about at UHV," said Longoria. "I had smaller classrooms so I could focus and develop relationships with my professors to assists in my academics success and plans for my future."

After obtaining his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree he serves as the lead clinician at an orthopedic physical therapy practice, and mentors post-doctorate physical therapists in orthopedic residency continuing education.

While he now makes a name for himself in the physical therapy field, he was well known on the baseball field during his three seasons with the Jaguars.

He was named NAIA All-American honorable mention in 2011 and began the 2012 season as a NAIA Preseason All-American. He was also the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Player of the Year in 2011, the 2011 UHV Baseball Player of the Year and the 2011 UHV Male Athlete of the Year.

A transfer from Angelina College, he is among the top-10 leaders in numerous UHV career categories including the all-time leader for doubles with 41. He is second in RBI (114), third in triples (7), home runs (18) and total bases (265), fourth in games started (150) and fifth in multi-hit games (44), at-bats (499) and hits (157).

Playing first base and the outfield, he is also eighth in putouts (398) and stolen bases (24) and ninth in games played (154).

He says one of his favorite memories from his playing time came on a team flight to a game.

"It was when a teammate, Anthony, held up an entire flight for 20 minutes because he was squatted in the restroom, and then received a standing ovation from the entire plane when he finished and we could take off," said Longoria.

Married and the father of a two-year-old, he said given the opportunity he wouldn't hesitate to do it all over again.

"I would. My experience at UHV assisted in my perspective and consideration for my future," said Longoria. "I felt I needed a smaller, focused collegiate environment for my success. I was always one to be easily distracted (ask my wife), and UHV was conducive to allowing me to see beyond a day."

UHV student-athlete alumni, we would like to keep in touch with you. If you could send me your updated e-mail address so that I can update my record it would be appreciated. You can send your e-mail to ebnerp@uhv.edu.