MidValleySports.Com

New Pioneer HC Andre Ortega

By George Hernandez

Big George talks with new Pioneer head coach Andre Ortega who took over for Ramon Juarez. Ortega is a Titan alum and was the offensive coordinator for Montebello who made the CIFSS Finals last year in Division 13.

Q: What’s up coach? How’s it going?

A: Everything is going well. Hope everything is going well for you as well.

Q: I read you’re a Pioneer alum, how much does it mean to come back to your school and become head coach?

A: It means a lot to me. I have the opportunity to give back to my community and school that shaped me into the person I am today. Being able to be the successor to Coach Juarez is another plus to this. I’m thrilled to take over for someone I was coached by and in a lot of ways shaped my success as a coach.

Q: Where are some other spots you’ve made stops at during your coaching career?

A: I started at Workman High school under Coach Scott Morrison where I coached LBs and from there we headed to La Puente High School where I coached WRs, LBs, and DBs. From La Puente I headed to Whittier High School to coach Under Visko Ancich as the RBs coach and eventually the QBs coach. After my time at Whittier High School I headed to Cal High where I coached with Louie Zamora and Patrick Winchell as the WRs coach. For the past 4 years I was the offensive coordinator at Montebello High School for Coach Pete Gonzalez. I’ve been pretty fortunate to be under some successful coaches.

Q: You’re taking over a program that has had a lot of success the last two years with a pair of CIF Finals appearances with one championship. How do you plan to keep it going?

A: I mentioned in my interview I want to get together with Coach Juarez and Coach Willig, the previous staff, and talk about their success. I want to make sure I don’t completely change the ecosystem. There is success here already so I want to build off that and bring in my ideas that helped to the success at Montebello.

Q: How do you think you’re going to do in your new league?

A: I think the league has a fair level of competition. I think we will be successful enough to compete for a league title and make the playoffs.

Q: Are you going to be bringing in your own staff or mix it up with some of the guys that were here already?

A: We’ve mixed up the staff. I have my staff that I’m bringing along and they have staff that want to stay on.

Q: What’s going to be your offensive strategy? Are you going to pound it or air it out?

A: We will go based on our personnel. If we got the guys to air it out we will. If we got the guys to run the ball we will run it. I understand that we won’t always have the same type of players so each year will depend on our players.

Q: What will you consider a good first season for you as a head coach?

A: Above .500 record, winning league, and making the playoffs.

Q: I know you’ve only been out here a couple weeks now but have you been able to start up in the weight room or get on the field yet with the boys? If so who should we be looking out for on the field?

A: Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get out there. I was introduced to the team on Thursday. Coach Juarez mentioned some kids and he talked about how we will have the core of our defense coming back and some key players on the offensive line. I should be able to get some work with them real soon. 

Q: Thank you Coach. Is there anything you would like to say or want people to know?

A:  Just that I do understand what it takes to make it to a championship game. I know the amount of work it takes to be successful.  And I’m just excited to get out there with my staff and get these kids ready for another great season. Also, I want to thank everyone for reaching out and for all the support I’m getting.