Rene Ortiz
Encyclopedia
Rene Ortiz is a retired Mexican-American soccer player who currently coaches in Mexico. He spent most of his playing career in indoor soccer with two seasons in the Western Soccer Alliance and one season in Major League Soccer
. He currently coaches the Mexican national futsal team and the Hilltop High School
soccer teams.
in San Diego, California
for one year. He played one season of high school soccer in 1987, scoring at such a high rate that the San Diego Sockers drafted him selected him in the 1987 Major Indoor Soccer League
draft. He played three indoor winter seasons with the Sockers, winning the three consecutive championships. In the summer of 1988 and 1989, he played for the San Diego Nomads
of the outdoor Western Soccer Alliance, winning the 1989 WSA championship. In 1990, he moved to the Milwaukee Wave
in the National Professional Soccer League. In 1993, the Sockers moved to a new league, the Continental Indoor Soccer League
which played a summer indoor schedule. At the end of the 1992-1993 NPSL season, Ortiz signed with the Sockers for the 1993 CISL season, returning to the Wave for the 1993-1994 NPSL season. Ortiz returned to the Sockers for the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
In February 1996, the Dallas Burn selected Ortiz in the seventh round (63rd overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He played only two games before being released. In the fall of 1996, he signed with the Cincinnati Silverbacks
of the NPSL. In the summer of 1997, he played for the Monterrey La Raza in the CISL. The CISL collapsed at the end of the season and Ortiz moved to the Arizona Thunder
of the World Indoor Soccer League
. He retired when the Thunder folded in 2000.
as the team took fourth place at the Futsal Mundialito
. In 1996, he played for the United States national beach soccer team
which finished fourth at the Beach Soccer World Cup 1996
.
soccer team in Germantown, Wisconsin
. In 1994 and 1995, he was an assistant coach with Southwest Senior High School
in San Diego, California
. In 1995, he became a staff coach with the Bonita Rebels youth soccer club in Bonita, California
. He remained on the Bonita Rebels staff for ten years. From 1998 to 2000, he was an assistant coach at El Cajon Valley High School
. In 2001, he moved to the Marian Catholic High School in San Diego, California
, a position he held until 2003. In 2002, he coached the Mexican Futsal Team. He was head coach of the Express Diesel, a Mexican indoor soccer team in Baja. In 2006, he became the head coach of the Mexican national futsal team, a position he holds today. He is also the head coach of the Hilltop High School
boys and girls soccer teams.
Ortiz gained his bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University
in 2006.
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He currently coaches the Mexican national futsal team and the Hilltop High School
Hilltop High School
Hilltop Senior High is a four-year public high school located in Chula Vista, California and is part of the Sweetwater Union High School District . The school colors are kelly green, white, and black. The school mascot is the "Lancer"...
soccer teams.
Professional
Although born in the United States, Ortiz was raised in Tijuana, Mexico. While in Mexico, he played for several youth clubs including Tecolatlan of the Major League of Tijuana. In 1985, he played for Atletico Tijuana in the Mexican Third Division. He returned to the United States as a teenager and attended Southwest Senior High SchoolSouthwest Senior High School
Southwest Senior High , in San Diego, California, United States, is a high school established in 1975. Part of the Sweetwater Union High School District, it serves all socioeconomic communities of San Diego , as well as some students living in Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and San Ysidro. The school...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
for one year. He played one season of high school soccer in 1987, scoring at such a high rate that the San Diego Sockers drafted him selected him in the 1987 Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
draft. He played three indoor winter seasons with the Sockers, winning the three consecutive championships. In the summer of 1988 and 1989, he played for the San Diego Nomads
San Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
of the outdoor Western Soccer Alliance, winning the 1989 WSA championship. In 1990, he moved to the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
in the National Professional Soccer League. In 1993, the Sockers moved to a new league, the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
which played a summer indoor schedule. At the end of the 1992-1993 NPSL season, Ortiz signed with the Sockers for the 1993 CISL season, returning to the Wave for the 1993-1994 NPSL season. Ortiz returned to the Sockers for the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
In February 1996, the Dallas Burn selected Ortiz in the seventh round (63rd overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He played only two games before being released. In the fall of 1996, he signed with the Cincinnati Silverbacks
Cincinnati Silverbacks
The Cincinnati Silverbacks was an indoor soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. They performed under the leadership of All-Star goalkeeper, Carlos Pena. Other star players included Gino DiFlorio , Franklin McIntosh, and Dennis Brose...
of the NPSL. In the summer of 1997, he played for the Monterrey La Raza in the CISL. The CISL collapsed at the end of the season and Ortiz moved to the Arizona Thunder
Arizona Thunder
The Arizona Thunder was a professional indoor soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1997, the team was a member of the Premier Soccer Alliance. In 1998, the alliance, with some additional teams, reconstituted itself as the World Indoor Soccer League . The Thunder continued to play in the...
of the World Indoor Soccer League
World Indoor Soccer League
The World Indoor Soccer League was a United States based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.-History:...
. He retired when the Thunder folded in 2000.
National team
In 1995, Ortiz earned five caps, scoring one goal, with the United States national futsal teamUnited States national futsal team
The United States national futsal team is the futsal team that represents that United States at international competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and affiliated with CONCACAF. The U.S. Futsal Federation was founded in 1981 and the first international futsal match...
as the team took fourth place at the Futsal Mundialito
Futsal Mundialito
The Futsal Mundialito is a futsal competition of the same kind of the FIFA Futsal World Cup but with invited nations. It was first held in 1994.-Results:...
. In 1996, he played for the United States national beach soccer team
United States national beach soccer team
The United States national beach soccer team represents United States in international beach soccer competitions and is controlled by the USSF, the governing body for football in the United States.-Current squad:Correct as of November 2008....
which finished fourth at the Beach Soccer World Cup 1996
Beach Soccer World Cup 1996
The 1996 Beach Soccer World Cup was the second edition of the Beach Soccer World Championships, which wasn't governed by FIFA. The tournament took place in Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the second time.-Organisation:...
.
Coach
Through his extensive playing career, Ortiz managed to establish his coaching career. In 1992, he began his coaching career with the Germantown High SchoolGermantown High School (Wisconsin)
Germantown High School is a high school in Germantown, Wisconsin. It is part of the Germantown School District. The high school was founded in 1957 as Washington Union High School.-Academics:...
soccer team in Germantown, Wisconsin
Germantown, Wisconsin
Germantown is a village in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 18,260 at the 2000 census. The village surrounds the Town of Germantown...
. In 1994 and 1995, he was an assistant coach with Southwest Senior High School
Southwest Senior High School
Southwest Senior High , in San Diego, California, United States, is a high school established in 1975. Part of the Sweetwater Union High School District, it serves all socioeconomic communities of San Diego , as well as some students living in Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and San Ysidro. The school...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. In 1995, he became a staff coach with the Bonita Rebels youth soccer club in Bonita, California
Bonita, California
Bonita is a census-designated place in southern San Diego County, California, nestled between the cities of Chula Vista, National City, and San Diego. The population was 12,538 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bonita is located at ....
. He remained on the Bonita Rebels staff for ten years. From 1998 to 2000, he was an assistant coach at El Cajon Valley High School
El Cajon Valley High School
El Cajon Valley High School is a comprehensive public secondary school located in El Cajon, California, which is in the eastern county of San Diego, and serves students in grades nine through twelve. Established in 1955, El Cajon Valley is the third of twelve high schools to be built in the...
. In 2001, he moved to the Marian Catholic High School in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, a position he held until 2003. In 2002, he coached the Mexican Futsal Team. He was head coach of the Express Diesel, a Mexican indoor soccer team in Baja. In 2006, he became the head coach of the Mexican national futsal team, a position he holds today. He is also the head coach of the Hilltop High School
Hilltop High School
Hilltop Senior High is a four-year public high school located in Chula Vista, California and is part of the Sweetwater Union High School District . The school colors are kelly green, white, and black. The school mascot is the "Lancer"...
boys and girls soccer teams.
Ortiz gained his bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
in 2006.