After nearly five decades of shaping young athletes on the fields of El Paso, veteran coach Juan "Choppy" Orozco stepped down from his dual role in football and baseball at Coronado High School this week, bringing to a close a career that spanned 47 years.
Roots in a Texas border town
Orozco’s story began in the same halls he would later coach in, having graduated from Coronado in 1974 after excelling in football, track and field. Those early years forged a deep connection to the school that would define his professional path.
A career of championships and near‑misses
In 1992 the Coronado baseball squad, under Orozco’s guidance, surged to the Class 5A state semifinals, dispatching rivals such as Hanks and Denton before falling to Freeport Brazoswood. The following year the team returned to the Final Four, succumbing in a heartbreaking 10‑9 loss to Abilene Cooper.
Mentors, family and the quiet strength behind the scenes
The coach often credited his wife Barbara, son Nick and daughter Alexis for the steady support that allowed him to devote countless evenings to practice and strategy. He also spoke of the influence of his own mentors, football coaches Jack Quarles and Don Brooks, whose philosophies of unselfish leadership left an indelible mark.
Echoes from the locker room
Former players like Nick Olea have recalled the confidence Orozco instilled, while longtime colleague Mike Pry described him as a ‘legend’ whose humility and dedication embodied the spirit of Coronado High. El Paso Independent School District Athletics Director David Cervantes called Orozco a ‘great ambassador’ for the district.
Beyond the trophies, Orozco’s legacy is measured in the countless lives he touched, the community service he championed, and the standards of sportsmanship he set for future generations. As the El Paso sports community bids farewell, the imprint of his career will continue to resonate on every practice field and in every locker room.