Coach Ortega returns for his second year as head coach of the women’s tennis coach.   In his first season, the Lady Seahawks had an overall record of 2-7 with Vanja Mikovic winning the Flight 1 Singles state title and the tandem of Mikovic and Ivana Jiraskova winning the Flight 1 doubles state title.  Mikovic eventually lost in the semi-finals of the national tournament while the doubles team of Mikovic/Jiraskova lost in the third round of the tournament. 

Ortega has served the last seven years as a private tennis coach for USTA junior players.  During his tenure, he has produced several players that received scholarships to NCAA and NJCAA institutions.  Three of his players signed with BCC, including Bridget Castillo, Angelique Pacheco and Monica Ortega.  Castillo compiled a 9-4 singles record during the 2007 regular season and finished 95^th in the final ITA rankings.  Pacheco posted an 8-4 mark and a ranking of 28^th in the ITA.  Castillo and Pacheco contributed to the Seahawks reaching the NJCAA National Championship Tournament in Tucson, Ariz.  Monica Ortega played for BCC in 2006, finishing 11-4 in the regular season and winning the No. 6 FCCAA and NJCAA singles championships to help BCC claim the 2006 NJCAA national title.

Ortega also worked as a professional coach at Casely Tennis Academy from 1997 to 1999.  From 1995 to 1996, he was an assistant coach at Patricio Appey Tennis Academy.  Ortega spent four years as head coach of the Cuban National Team, directing the boys 18’s teams (1992-1994) and the boys 16’s teams (1991-1992).

During his playing career, Ortega was a member of the Cuba Finalist Team in the National Junior Championship in 1984 at the age of 17.  In 1985, he was a finalist on the singles and doubles teams and helped his club win the National Junior Championship.  Ortega also was a member of the International Tennis Federation Junior Tour Team, playing tournaments in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland and Hungary.

From 1985 to 1990, Ortega played on the Cuban National Team and helped the squad win the International Championship Friendship Cup in 1988.  A year later, Ortega played on the International Tournament Tour in Europe.  Ortega capped his career, helping Cuba win the national championship in level one competition and also was doubles champion in the Artemisa Cup (level 1).

Ortega graduated with a master’s degree in Sports at the Higher Institute of Physical Education in Havana, Cuba in 1989.  In addition, he has completed several certification programs, including the Superior Course of Theory and Methodology (1989), Superior Course of Physical Preparation (1990), International Tennis Federation Training Course – Level 1 (1991) and Certificate United States Professional Tennis Registry (2003).  He also attended international forums covering subjects such as Sciences Applicable to Sports, Sport Psychology and Sport Medicine and Health.