PHOENIX – Growing up in a Latino household, life often revolves around family, hard work and a deep love for sports. Stereotypes implied that football was an afterthought and that Latino athletes were more suited for baseball or soccer. Opportunities were restricted, and there was little representation at the highest levels. As time went on, however, the story started to change.

Roy Lopez, who has coached and mentored young athletes in the Valley for 30 years, believes that football is more than just the positions on the field. Strongly connected to his Latino roots in Arizona, Lopez has made it his mission to influence the next generation by highlighting opportunity, culture and discipline.

When his son Roy Lopez Jr. was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2021, the moment affected more than just their family, making that dedication even more emotional. The family’s football lineage is fierce: Roy Sr. is the nephew of the late Chuck Esquivel, the long-time football coach at Glendale’s Ironwood High, where the field is named after him.

Lopez Jr.’s accomplishments represented a turning point for Latino athletes, demonstrating they had a place at the top and encouraging a new generation to follow their aspirations.

“He beat the odds,” Lopez said of his son, a graduate of Mesquite High in Gilbert who is now a nose tackle for the Arizona Cardinals. “He’s the kid with the black hair and the brown skin. He beat the one percent odd and realistically, he’s less than one percent. It starts giving hope to those in this generation and say ‘Hey, I can be like that’ and play with a chip in their heart.”

Roy Lopez Sr., left, and his son, Roy Lopez Jr., honor the legacy of Chuck Esquivel, a legendary Glendale Ironwood High School coach and Roy Sr.’s uncle. (Photo courtesy of Roy Lopez Sr.)

That hope is beginning to take root at the high school level. With the NFL launching initiatives like “Por La Cultura” to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, Arizona football is proving to be more than just a sport. It’s a growing hub of culture and community.
Joseph Ortiz, who became Chandler Unified School District’s first Hispanic coach in 2022 with Perry High School, is actively creating opportunities for Latino students to play football.

Ortiz began coaching when he was 19 after receiving a call from his former high school coach, a moment that soon shaped his new career. Over the years, he noticed a trend of the Latino community becoming more involved in the sport and seeing steady improvement.

“It’s growing. There’s not a lot of us,” Ortiz said. “Only a handful of coaches follow this background. There’s a ton of people trying to become a coach and they want to be at this level. They’re proud of us and want to join us. It’s an honor and I love it.”

Ortiz was recognized as one of the 2024 Arizona Cardinals Latino Heritage Community Spotlights. The honor brought up memories of his grandpa, who has guided him into being the person he is today.

“I was kind of surprised,” Ortiz said. “I got an email from the Cardinals, and it choked me up a bit. I’m a big Cardinals fan and I’m happy that I was honored for that. I was recognized and it means a lot.

“I’m a third generation from my family and all I can think about is my grandpa. He’s the reason why I’m here in this position, being able to help others.”

Ortiz also reflects on how football guided him into becoming a person who helps others. It’s his motto that he follows when guiding his Latino players on the team.

“I think we can preach the word of life. Being in a minority is rough sometimes,” Ortiz said. “People have thoughts and cultures. Believe it or not. It’s a life lesson and football teaches all that. It ties into the game of life.”

Gabriel Morrison and Nicholas Heredia, both Latino football players at Perry High School, say Ortiz helped them find a spark in a sport that wasn’t always in their thoughts because of their backgrounds.

“When joining Perry, I never considered thinking about (playing football),” Morrison said. “He (Ortiz) became a fatherly figure towards not only just me, but this entire community that we come from.”

Added Heredia, “We all know that there aren’t many Hispanics that play football in Arizona. I know that, Coach Ortiz knows that, and that’s what makes us different. We want to make an impact and prove that everyone is included in this sport.”

Football is more than just a game. It’s an environment for personal growth, and also an opportunity to make a family with each other. It’s a brotherhood bond that brings everyone together, something that aligns strongly with the Latino community.

Danny Navarro, Sabino High School’s running backs coach, has been coaching for 15 years and graduated from Nogales High School. Over the years, he has seen the growth of Latinos in football, especially around Tucson.

Coach Danny Navarro builds community with his Sabino High School players during practice. (Photo courtesy of Sabino High School)

It’s a big reason he decided to take his coaching career with Sabino, and help his community grow.

“The importance is that there’s a growing Hispanic demographic in Tucson and that interested me a lot,” Navarro said. “I wanted to build the community with football. A lot of kids are more comfortable playing. There’s a more sense of culture and pride in Hispanic culture.”

Navarro mentioned the aspect of “maturity” being a crucial part of the sport’s appeal.

“I think football goes hand in hand with Hispanic culture,” Navarro said. “We have a couple of kids who are Hispanic. It’s exciting … We’re not only developing football players, we’re developing quality people for society. It teaches you to deal with adversity. It teaches you how to grow up and how to deal with problems. Become productive for society.”

A key component of football is discipline, which is often highlighted for Latino players in Arizona, on and off the field. Through demanding training schedules, coaches build a strong sense of discipline in their players by stressing the value of following plays, staying physically fit, and following team rules.

Many athletes have backgrounds that place a high importance on diligence and hard work, which influences how they approach the game. Their dedication to practice plans, their capacity for accepting constructive criticism and their concentration during games all demonstrate this discipline.

“Sports in general is a great way to develop discipline. It’s more than just players. We’re family,” Navarro said. “We’re all working together to achieve our goals. We achieve together as a family. I encourage students to play. We have untapped potential to play and the more we further the sports and the more better. Not only Hispanic but with Mexico as well. It’s growing over there as well.”

It doesn’t stop there. While Latinos continue to grow within the sport, there are opportunities for many players to keep playing at a higher level.

Offertunity Bowl director Jim Camarillo, right, and Brophy Prep coach Jason Jewell work together to create pathways for Latino athletes to succeed in football. (Photo courtesy of Jim Camarillo)

Offertunity Bowl director Jim Camarillo has worked with minority athletes since 2018. He started the Minority Football Coaches Network to work with many coaches, mostly from a minority background, and give opportunities to athletes who weren’t given a second chance.

In 2024, the Offertunity Bowl had its first All-Star Bowl, with 75 players showcasing their skills against athletes from California. The Offertunity Bowl is open for all athletes, but Camarillo has been seeing an improvement of Latino coaches and players within the sport.

“I think we’ve been seeing more Hispanics athletes taking over the sport,” Camarillo said. “Not only the athletes, but the coaches as well. It’s great seeing people from a minority group come out and play a sport that they can learn from. Even with the coaches as well, seeing a Latino coach like Joseph Ortiz guide the athletes to become better people through football. It’s full circle.

“The Minority Football Coaches Network is always available to help those in a Hispanic background and I’m excited to see what’s to come in 2025.”

Camarillo’s perspective on the growing influence of Hispanic athletes and coaches in football is further shaped by his connection with Jason Jewell, the football coach at Brophy Preparatory Academy.

Working alongside Jewell, Camarillo has witnessed how Jewell’s football program fosters strong connections within the Latino community. Jewell’s efforts not only promote inclusivity but also highlight the cultural ties that continue to strengthen the presence of Latino athletes in the sport.

He understands there are stereotypes, but believes that every person, no matter their background, can find purpose and place within the sport.

“Being from Arizona, I know there is a huge community of Hispanics all around,” Jewell said. “Brophy has not been known to be a diverse community, but when people step onto campus, they are surprised to see the diversity among us. That’s what my football team consists of. I played in New Mexico State, so nothing is new to me. I embrace Hispanic culture and applaud them for breaking out of those stereotypes.”

Brophy Prep coach Jason Jewell mentors and supports the growth and development of his Hispanic players. (Photo by Sebastian Mondaca/Cronkite News)

Jewell’s desire to embrace diversity on the football field has had a significant impact on players such as running back Carlos Estrada, who found motivation and a sense of belonging under Jewell’s encouragement.

Football became more than a sport for Estrada; it was a means of personal development and community building. Estrada was greatly influenced by Jewell’s ability to establish a family-like environment within Brophy, especially as he realized how the lessons learned on the field might affect his life outside football.

“It’s so true from the aspect of what you receive playing football,” Estrada said. “There’s life lessons where you don’t get anywhere else beside the football field. It’s so much more than being a starter or back-up, being a part of this community is like another family away from home. That’s why I fell in love with the sport, and I hope I can be a pillar for those within my own community to support football.”

Football has become a cultural bridge in Arizona, especially as Latinos gain influence in the sport. From players to coaches to administrators, their contributions go beyond the game, leaving a legacy of inclusion, discipline and community pride. High school programs conducted by Lopez, Ortiz, Navarro and Jewell show how football can be an incentive for personal development, cultural representation and breaking stereotypes.

Programs like the Minority Football Coaches Network, as well as initiatives like the Offertunity Bowl, show the growing chances for Latino athletes and coaches to establish a name for themselves on and off the field.

The sport has evolved to reflect Arizona’s strong Latino population, demonstrating that football is more than just a game; it is a shared experience that brings people together and motivates the next generation to rise and redefine what it means to belong in the game of life.

“In our culture, we know that it takes a huge village to grow,” Lopez said. “I know it goes back to the coaches who influenced me. It was my turn to give it all, and now I trust my son to shape the tables on the Latino community, and we’re only going up from here.”