JONESBORO, Ark. (1/3/25) – Arkansas State head football coach Butch Jones announced Friday that Jalen Ortiz has been named the Red Wolves' cornerbacks coach.
 
"Jalen Ortiz is an individual who possesses valuable experience as both a former defensive back and successful coach at multiple FBS programs," said Jones. "He has a proven track record of developing numerous players into all-conference and All-America performers.  Along with his strong coaching background and ability to enhance player performance both on and off the field, his strong knowledge of the game will make him a great addition to our staff. We want to welcome him, his wife, Breah, and their sons, Ace and Andre, to our Red Wolves family."
 
Ortiz comes to Jonesboro after serving in the same role at Utah State in 2024, helping the Aggies' defense rank 36th nationally with 13 total interceptions. Under Ortiz, cornerback DJ Graham II was an Honorable Mention All-Mountain West selection after posting 42 tackles, three forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.
 
"I am proud and honored to be joining the staff at Arkansas State," said Ortiz. "I have always had a great amount of respect for Coach Jones and what he has been able to accomplish in this profession. I am excited to be able to work for Coach and with his staff to continue elevating the football program here at A-State. I am thankful for Coach Jones and (A-State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics) Jeff Purinton for the opportunity and can't wait to get to work for Red Wolves football."
 
Prior to his lone season at Utah State, Ortiz spent the 2022 and 2023 campaigns as the cornerbacks coach at Nevada. In 2023, Ortiz's unit helped the Wolf Pack rank 15th in the nation with three defensive touchdowns as they returned three interceptions for scores. In his first season at Nevada, Ortiz saw his two starting cornerbacks rank in the team's top seven in tackles. Overall, Ortiz's unit contributed to a defense that intercepted 11 passes in 2022 and nine in 2023. 
 
Ortiz spent two seasons, 2020 and 2021, as a graduate assistant at Oregon primarily coaching defensive backs. The Ducks played in bowl games both seasons, winning the Pac-12 championship in 2020 and finishing runner-up in 2021. 
 
During his time at Oregon, Ortiz helped coach a secondary that finished with three all-conference players and had an NFL draft pick in Deommodore Lenoir, a fifth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers. He also coached Verone McKinley II, a consensus All-American, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award finalist and first team all-Pac-12 honoree. 
 
Ortiz began his coaching career at Wyoming, spending two seasons (2018-19) as a graduate assistant. He helped the Cowboys win 14 games, including a 2019 campaign in which the Pokes finished 8-5 and capped the season with a win in the Arizona Bowl. 
 
With the Cowboys, Ortiz coached a pair of first team all-Mountain West performers. In 2019, Alijaha Halliburtun earn first-team all-league recognition after leading Wyoming with 130 tackles, finishing 11th in the nation with 10.0 tackles per game. In 2018, Andrew Wingard claimed first-team all-league accolades, finishing his career as the league's record holder in career tackles with 454. Tyler Hall joined Halliburton and Wingard as all-conference selections under Ortiz, claiming honorable mention honors in both 2018 and 2019. 
 
As a player, Ortiz began his collegiate career at UCLA lettering two seasons for the Bruins (2013-14) before transferring to Wyoming. After sitting out the 2015 season, Ortiz lettered for the Cowboys in 2016 and 2017. 
 
As a senior at Wyoming, Ortiz started at safety/nickel and helped the Cowboys to an 8-5 record and a win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. He was part of a defense that led the country in takeaways, forcing 38 turnovers. The Pokes also ranked ninth in the country in scoring defense, first in the nation in fumbles recovered, second in interceptions, 13th in pass defense and 23rd in total defense. 
 
Ortiz graduated from Wyoming with a degree in political science in 2017. He and his wife, Breah, have two sons, Ace and Andre. 
 
JALEN ORTIZ FILE
Coaching History
2024                      Utah State – Cornerbacks
2022-23               Nevada – Cornerbacks
2020-21               Oregon – Graduate Assistant
2018-19               Wyoming – Graduate Assistant
 
Bowl Games (3)
Oregon (2): 2021 Alamo Bowl; 2021 Fiesta Bowl
Wyoming (1): 2019 Arizona Bowl
 
Conference Championships (1)
Oregon (1): Pac-12, 2020
 
Playing Experience
2015-17               Wyoming – Safety/Nickel
2013-14               UCLA – Cornerback
 
Education
2017                      Wyoming – Political Science
 
Family
Wife – Breah; Sons – Ace, Andre