Reuben Ortiz begins his sixth season as volunteer assistant coach with the Texas State track and field/cross country teams. Ortiz is in charge of distance recruiting while also assisting in the coaching efforts of the cross country and distance runners.
Ortiz and the cross country teams finished the 2010 season with the men placing sixth and the women eighth at the Southland Conference Championships.
In 2008, Ortiz had two female runners earn All-Southland Conference Cross Country honors, while leading the women’s side to a third place finish.
Ortiz joined the Bobcat staff after a stellar three-year coaching staff at Gonzales High School in central Texas. In his first season coaching Gonzales’ girls cross country team, Ortiz led his squad to a second place finish in the Class 3A State Cross Country Championships. It was the first medal finish for the Gonzales girls’ team in the history of the program.
In the spring of 2004, Ortiz’s squad at Gonzales captured the District 27-3A championship and was the Region IV Class 3A regional track champions. It was the school’s first ever regional championship. Ortiz capped the season by being named the Region IV Class 3A Girls’ Track Coach of the Year by the Victoria Advocate.
During his career at Gonzales, Ortiz also served a two-year stint on the Texas Girls Coaches Association Track All-State Committee (2004-2005).
As a member of Gonzales High School’s faculty, Ortiz taught world history, world geography and introduction to business courses.
Ortiz graduated from Texas State with a B.A. in political science with a teachers certificate and a B.B.A. in marketing and received his master’s in physical education with emphasis in sports management in 2008. Ortiz was a four-year member of the track and field and cross country teams while attending Texas State.