Joey Ortiz is a Cordova graduate from the Class of 1989. Photo courtesy of Joey Ortiz

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - A 1989 graduate of Cordova High School, Joey Ortiz grew up wanting nothing more than to be a Lancer. 

His neighbors during childhood were Lester Holt and Guy Anderson. Ortiz had dreams of playing football at Cordova, idolizing many in the area who had excelled on the gridiron while wearing the uniform he admired. Ortiz would eventually realize those dreams, and as a senior during the 1988 season, averaged 26 yards per catch as a wide receiver to go along with his exceptional kickoff and punt return attributes. 

Ortiz parlayed his play at Cordova into collegiate success at Sacramento City College, and in 1991 accepted a scholarship offer to play at University of Nevada Las Vegas. But just three days after taking the offer, Ortiz’s life changed forever in an accident that has shaped the rest of his life. 

As a senior on the football field in 1988, Joey Ortiz averaged 26 yards per reception on offense. Photo courtesy of Joey Ortiz

Upon leaving a party one evening, Ortiz was standing on a street corner and was struck by a vehicle. The accident left him with a list of broken bones and injuries longer than most grocery store receipts. After being in a coma for three days, Ortiz awakened and immediately asked his doctor if he would ever play football again. Ortiz was told his football dreams were over and that he might never run or walk again.

Ortiz spent the next five months rehabbing from his injuries with fierce determination to return to the football field. He would do just that, as he later stepped back onto the grass at Hughes Stadium as a member of the Panthers. 

“I went through what I like to call physical torture, not rehab,” Ortiz said. “I taught myself how to walk again at 20 years old and went to physical therapy five times a week. Then I was in the gym working out with a catheter bag and was working out way before I should’ve been. I got back on the football field five months after the accident but I was washed up. On my best day, I was probably 70 percent of what I once was.”

Turning tragedy into triumph has been something Ortiz has done his entire life, with the car accident being one of many dark moments he has had to overcome. As a child, Ortiz was the victim of child abuse and began drinking alcohol at eight years old. By age 20 Ortiz was, in his own words, “A fully functioning alcoholic,” with his accident only making things worse. 

“I called it my ‘invincibility factor,’” Ortiz said. “If a car couldn’t kill me, what were drugs and alcohol going to do?”

Joey Ortiz has authored four books on overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. Photo courtesy of Joey Ortiz

His substance abuse continued to get worse until Nov. 27, 2008. That is Ortiz’ sobriety date and the day that his wife left him. Facing the reality of losing everything, Ortiz made what he calls “The easiest decision I’ve ever made,” when he made the choice to get clean and sober. He also credits the very accident that turned his life upside down as the moment that also helped him turn everything around. 

“That event 17 years later saved my life when my wife left me,” Ortiz said. “The next day, I was walking down the street with 12 hours of sobriety and I looked over at the grocery store and thought, ‘I could walk in there and get a 12-pack of beer right now.’ But I had an epiphany. I overcame all these injuries; I marched back on the football field in five months. I can beat alcohol and drugs in my sleep. I’ve been a hundred percent sober ever since.”

These days, Ortiz is the territory training and sales manager for Clear Captions, a phone company that specializes in phones for the hearing impaired. He has also authored four books on overcoming addiction and regularly speaks to youth organizations and recovery groups. 

“I just have a message that can apply to so many different people’s lives,” Ortiz said. “Everybody is going to be faced with trauma in their life and faced with tragedy on some level and how you deal with it defines you. I share my story about what I’ve overcome in hopes it gives some people hope to make them think that if he did it, I can do it.”

Ortiz’ inspirational story has earned him the honor of being inducted into the Rancho Cordova Sports Hall of Fame this September as a recipient of the “Heart of A Champion” award. The ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at Rancho Cordova City Hall. Tickets for the event are $30, and can be purchased at https://form.jotform.com/cordovacouncil/rcaa-reception-tickets-2025.