David Vela (2019) - Hall of Honor - Texas State Athletics

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David Vela

Class
Induction

2019
Sport(s)

Football

David Vela was a four-year football letter winner for the Bobcats from 1979-82. A two-time All-Lone Star Conference wide receiver, Vela helped the Bobcats win three-straight Lone Star Conference Championships and back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships. The Bobcats compiled a record of 42-8 during his playing career, the third winningest class in program history. During his four-year career under the guidance of Head Coach Jim Wacker, Vela set the school record for yards per catch with an average of 20.89 yards.

Gallery: (1-1-2020) David Vela Hall of Honor

Vela sits third in program history with 2,110 receiving yards, ranks No. 10 in receptions with 101, and third in career touchdown receptions with 17. He continues to hold the school record in yards per reception. He also ranks top ten in several all-time season records, including third all-time in touchdowns with 11 and receiving yards with 971.

During his sophomore season, Vela and the Bobcats amassed a record of 8-3 and won the Lone Star Conference on the strength of a 6-1 league record. That season Vela was selected to the All-Lone Star Conference second team.

His junior season was one for the record books. The Bobcats finished the season with a 13-1 record, a Lone Star Conference Championship, and the first of two back-to-back Division II National Championships. Vela needed only 44 receptions to break the school record for single-season receiving yards with 971 and single-season touchdown receptions with 11. Both records held up until the 2007 season. Vela was rewarded with second team All-Lone Star distinctions.

The Bobcats claimed NCAA Division II National Championship glory again in his senior season of 1982. The Bobcats dominated the ’82 campaign and finished with a perfect 14-0 record and a third-straight Lone Star Conference title. Vela was named to the All-Lone Star Conference First Team after recording a team-high 34 receptions for 580 yards and one score. He was also named an honorable mention to the 1982 Associated Press Little All-America team.

After exhausting his eligibility with back-to-back championships, Vela set his aim at the National Football League. He competed in the 1983 NFL Draft Combine before beginning his career with the Oakland Raiders. His professional career lasted three seasons and ended with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL.

Upon leaving the game, Vela began an extensive teaching and coaching career. In total, his teams have collected seven district titles and two state championships. From 1999-2005 he served as a wide receiver coach for the San Antonio East/West High School All-Star Football Game. He parlayed that success into a stint with the US Army All-American Bowl in ’05 as a wide receivers coach.

Vela earned the 1998 All-San Antonio Hispanic Player Sports Award before being inducted into the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. In ’18, Vela was inducted into the San Antonio Independent School District Hall of Fame.

An active member in the community, Vela has spent years as a volunteer coach for several Boys and Girls Club sports, coached a handful of CYO basketball and track teams, worked with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, served as a coach for several college football team camps, worked with Habitat for Humanity, and helped train prospective NFL players for the combine.

David Vela is the son of Ramiro and Yolanda Vela. Vela and his wife, Irene (Dominguez) Vela, have been married for 37 years. They have two children, David Vela, Jr. and Analisa Vela.

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