Upon learning her Keller Fossil Ridge Lady Panthers were placed in the top 25 on the ESPN Rise website Dorothy Ortiz was filled with joy for her players, their families, the school and the community for such hard work and dedication into a soccer program that was receiving national recognition for the first time in the program's history.
Such accolades have become common for Ortiz since graduating from Angelo State in 2003 with a degree in kinesiology and includes a stint in the Marines Reserve Corp, attended the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School and a career in coaching that included two undefeated District Championships, two District Coach of the Year awards, having 60 of her athletes being named to an All-District team, nine making the All-Region team, one winning District MVP, and having most of her seniors go to college earning a academic or athletic scholarship.
For those who knew Ortiz from her days as a standout All-Lone Star Conference soccer player at Angelo State her success both on and off the field is not very surprising. Ortiz, back when she was known as Dorothy May, played at ASU from 1998-2001 and set several records for the Rambelles, including 50 career goals and 112 total points, records that still stand today. In 1998 as a freshman she scored a school-record 22 goals as she helped the Belles win 11 games and make their first conference tournament appearance in the program's history. For Ortiz the opportunity to play right away was one of her reasons for choosing to go to ASU.
“I felt very comfortable while visiting ASU and really appreciated what the school had to offer me as an athlete and as a student,” Ortiz said. “I really liked the idea of smaller class sizes, a team that I would play for right away and it wasn't too far from home.”
Rambelles head soccer coach
Travis McCorkle, an assistant during Ortiz's junior and senior seasons, remembers Ortiz as a hard worker and a tough player.
“D. May was a great person here and very hard worker,” McCorkle said. “One of the hardest working players I've ever seen. She would stay after to work on things, very into games, tough, very tough as you can picture a Marine Reserve to be.”
“She managed (the Marines), she managed soccer, and she had a great grade point average. She's (currently) helped us out in recruiting with players she's working with or have worked with.”
Ortiz had great things to say about the people she worked with at ASU including coach McCorkle.
“I could go on and on about my time at ASU and what I learned. I would like to thank my chemistry professor for teaching me so much more about the subject and giving me a passion to teach it to others,” Ortiz said. “I also had some amazing education professors that helped me become a better coach and teacher and I am thankful for their efforts as well. I learned that you can achieve your goals and things you didn't think possible through faith and dedication.”
“All of my coaches during my time at ASU were influential in my choice to become a coach. I would like to thank (former Rambelles head coach) Tom Brown, (former Rambelles assistant) Eric Alonzo,
Travis McCorkle, and my teammate and coach
Christina Whetsel (formerly Christina Heck). All of these coaches have helped me in one way or another since playing for them at ASU.”
Another important figure in her life that she met at ASU was her husband, Dusty Ortiz, a member of Angelo State's football team from 1998-01 and graduated also with a degree in kinesiology in 2002. Dusty Ortiz is also a coach in the Keller district, which is located near Fort Worth, as an assistant for the Central High School football team.
“My husband, who I met in Anatomy class at ASU, is my biggest fan and supporter and has always been there for me,” Dorothy Ortiz said. “We met my junior year at ASU and he was going to school to become a coach and a teacher so again I was presented with my initial career choice.”
Ortiz had set goals early in life to play a sport in college and then become coach, but family tragedy made her consider other career choices, including the Marines.
“When I was a junior in high school, my father passed away after a short battle with cancer. After his passing my family went from being financially stable to financially struggling.” Ortiz said. “My mother suffered from Lupus and was unable to work because of her illness, and never had to when my father was alive. I was unsure of how I was going to pay for college after my father's death because I had no solid commitments from any universities.”
“I had taken the ASVAB early in my high school career and at the beginning of my senior year several military branches and institutions started to contact me. My family and I began to have several visits with different military recruiters at our home, and after visiting with the Marine Corps recruiter we were all very intrigued by the challenge of the training and the commitment it demanded.”
Ortiz committed to the Marines prior before her senior year, but after a successful soccer season at Canyon High School she started to receive interests from schools to play soccer including a scholarship from Angelo State enabling her to reach one of her goals she set for herself.
“After my freshman year at ASU I was contacted by my Marine Corps Recruiter and told that I would be leaving for boot camp at the start of summer,” said Ortiz. “I was on the path to becoming an enlisted Marine, but showed proof of my scholarships and attendance at ASU and I was able to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserves instead.”
“This was a great opportunity because it allowed me to continue going to school, play at the collegiate level without interference, and earn money to help support myself more effectively through college. I attended drill after soccer season once a month, attended training in the summer to cover my annual two week commitment, and attended additional training to make up for the drills I missed during the soccer season.”
Ortiz pursued becoming a Marine officer after her sophomore year and attended Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va. and graduated in the top of her class out of the male and female candidates and was named the Honor Graduate of Leadership.
“Serving in the Marines definitely helped shape me as a coach, because it has taught me that anything is possible if you set your mind and body to achieving it,” Ortiz said. “Being in the military has allowed me to appreciate the little things in life and never take anything for granted.”
“Anytime things get tough, I think back to some of the training I endured in the Marines and realize it's not so bad. I loved and still value my time in the Marine Corps, because the overall experience really helped me grow as a person and appreciate the little things in life.”
After graduating from ASU, Ortiz began her coaching career in 2003 at Hereford High School coaching freshman volleyball and junior varsity softball while learning under head volleyball coach Brenda Kitten. In 2004 she and her husband moved on to Hays High School in Buda as the boys junior varsity soccer coach and cross country coach before being given the reins to the girls varsity soccer program in 2005 where she won her two Coach of the Year awards, had a three year stretch of going 52-8-6 from 2007-2009 and was a Regional Finalist in 2007, the furthest playoff run in school history. She later went on to coach the boys' varsity soccer coach at Caney Creek High School before reaching her current position as Head Girls Soccer Coach at Fossil Ridge and leading the Lady Panthers to the ESPN Rise top 25 rankings with a victory over Southlake Carroll this past season.
As a player Ortiz was self-motivated, dedicated, hard-working, passionate, positive, strong in faith and loved to overcome challenges. Those traits also exist in her teams and coaching philosophy.
“I want people to say that my kids are just great kids overall, in the community, in the classroom, and on the field.” Ortiz said. “I want them to say that my teams understood the importance of hard-work and commitment and that they never gave up, even in tough situations and I want them to say that they enjoy competing with my teams because of the sportsmanship and competitive ability they possess.”
Ortiz still finds the time to be involved with the game of soccer as a player often going against her players in practice and competing in the ASU Alumni Soccer game.
“My player's joke that I could put on one of their uniforms and play and no one would know.” Ortiz said.
Today Ortiz and her husband are enjoying life as teachers, coaches and as proud parents of their one-year old son Luke Alexander. She is currently working on her Master's in Education Administration and will graduate this fall.
“Being a Christian and putting my faith in God has allowed me to have personal and professional success in life and I believe that to be my most valuable achievement.” Ortiz said. “Some of the achievements that mean a great deal to me include: Having a strong family, being a good wife and mother, becoming a coach and teacher and using my knowledge and skills to positively impact our youth.”
As for her decision on becoming a teacher and a coach.
“After many conversations, pro/con lists, and praying, I decided I would fully dedicate myself to becoming a coach and teacher, and I am so happy with my current career. It was definitely meant to be.”
