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- Title:
- Head Coach
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- Phone:
- (714) 432-5890
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- Email:
- mochoa@occ.cccd.edu
Bio
A coach who consistently brings out the best in his athletes, Marco Ochoa returns as the head coach of the cross country program for his 17th season.
Ochoa, who took over both programs in 2004, has done an outstanding job of continuing the winning tradition of the Pirate running program. Over the past 10 seasons, the women's team has won six state championships -- including back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 -- and 18 consecutive Orange Empire Conference titles. The men's team has won one state crown under Ochoa (2004) and Coast has finished in the top-five in the state numerous times under Ochoa's tenure.
On the individual side, Ochoa has mentored some of the top runners in school history, including state champions Humberto Rojas (2004), Ludi Valdez (2004) and two-time state champion Crystal Reed (2007 and 2008).
Seven times, Ochoa has been recognized as the State Coach of the Year for both the men's and women's programs during his 16-year career.
Prior to his coaching career, Ochoa was a standout runner himself, competing for 10 years in national and international competitions. In 1996, Ochoa finished fifth in the 1996 Olympic Trials for the marathon and was a second alternate for the U.S. Olympic Team. In 1997, Ochoa represented the U.S. in the marathon at the World Championships, held in Athens, Greece.
Ochoa was a two-time, All-American in both cross country and track and field at Adams State College in Colorado.
