Long-time Baldwin High athletic director Jon Garcia began his retirement yesterday after 34 years with the Department of Education.

Garcia, 63, had been AD at the Maui high school for 20 years. But he also was known for the successful basketball teams he coached from 1972 to 1995. His coaching tenure ended when the DOE ruled athletic directors could not coach when their status changed to education officers.

During his reign as coach, Garcia guided the Bears to 14 Maui Interscholastic League titles and 19 state tournament appearances.

Garcia said Kahai Shishido, a Baldwin graduate and former baseball coach, is serving as interim AD. Garcia said he has agreed to stay on a volunteer basis for the last six weeks of the school year.

"I've been thinking about (retirement) for the last couple of years," Garcia said yesterday. "I think now is the right time. I'm going to miss the players and the coaches. It's a fun job. But I noticed I have been smiling a lot the last couple of weeks."

Garcia said he has no major plans during retirement. But he said he will be a volunteer assistant coach for Baldwin's basketball team.