I am entering my second year as the Assistant Athletic Director at Portage High School. Prior to joining Portage, I served as the Athletic Director at Bonita Springs High School in Bonita Springs, Florida, for five years. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to coach multiple sports, including football, track and field, and basketball, which has given me a deep appreciation for the impact athletics can have on students' lives. My wife, Nicole, is the school counselor at Jones Elementary within Portage Township Schools, and am a proud stepfather of two children. Much of our free time is spent supporting our kids as they participate in sports and other activities. When I am not working, I enjoy playing golf and following my favorite sports teams. I am a fan of the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Boston Red Sox. I am passionate about creating positive experiences for our student-athletes, coaches, and families while helping build a culture of excellence within Portage Athletics. It is an honor to serve this community and support the success of our students both on and off the field. "It Truly Is A Great Time To Be An Indian!"

Annie Gonzalez is the head athletic trainer at Portage High School, a role she has held since July 2014. A Chesterton High School graduate of 2000, Annie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine from Hope College in Holland, MI, and became a licensed, certified Athletic Trainer in June 2004. Over her career, she has gained experience across a variety of settings, including independent schools, private schools, Division III universities, and both small and large public schools. Annie lives in Kingsford Heights with her fiancé, Thomas, along with their beloved pets, Harper the hedgehog and Chuck the cat. Although she graduated a Trojan, Every day is a great day to be an Indian

David Ortiz is the Head Volleyball Coach at Portage High School, leading both the girls and boys volleyball programs. He is passionate about developing student-athletes on and off the court by emphasizing accountability, discipline, teamwork, and leadership. In addition to coaching, David owns and operates LawnGuruLLC, a local lawn and landscaping business serving Northwest Indiana. He takes pride in building strong relationships within the community and helping young people grow into confident, responsible individuals. When he is not coaching or working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, supporting local athletics, and continuing to learn and grow as a coach and mentor.

My love of dance began right here in Portage at Willowcreek Middle School and continued through my high school years. I previously coached an All Star Dance Team and coached for one year with Portage Pop Warner. I am a proud PHS alumni and I currently teach 3rd grade in Portage. Dance provided me with an outlet, meaningful friendships, and valuable life lessons, and I am excited to help the PHS dancers build those same experiences.

Head Boys Swim Coach - 2011-2017, 2021-current Portage High School ‘05 graduate 4 year swim team letter winner at the University of Indianapolis - ‘09 graduate Wife - Jamie Sons - Ian (13), Cooper (10), Louie (5)

Education: Portage HS c/o 2011, Indiana University c/o 2015 Coaching Experience: 5 years Boys Wrestling Varsity Head Coach at PHS. Prior PHS spent 5 years coaching on the club wrestling circuit for Portage Wrestling Club and Region Wrestling Academy. Coaching Accomplishments: 5-Team Sectional Championships, 1-Team Regional Championship, 6th Place Team State Championships 2025. 10- IHSAA State Qualifiers, 1-IHSAA State Runner-up, and 2-USAwrestling All Americans.

I have taught math for 21 years, 2 at Calumet High School and 19 at Portage High School. I have coached track for all 19 years here, and have been the head coach for the last 13. I have 4 kids: Annebell, Elijah, Brynnlee, and Leland. I received my bachelor's from Valparaiso University, where I played football. I received my masters from Indiana University. In my time at Portage, I have also coached football and basketball. In my free time I like to work outside, do woodworking, and attend whatever events my kids are in.

Todd Strom is a proud Portage graduate and lifelong Portage resident who has dedicated much of his career to serving student-athletes in the community that helped shape him. He is entering his 21st year as a PE and Health teacher at Portage High School. Coach Strom is currently entering his seventh season as Head Coach of the Unified Track program (2021–present), leading the team to a State Finals appearance in 2024. He is also entering his third season as an assistant coach for the Portage Girls Golf program. Prior to his current roles, Coach Strom served as Head Boys Soccer Coach from 2007–2011, guiding the Indians to two sectional championships and two regional championships. In 2010, he was named the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association (ISCA) Region 1 Coach of the Year. He also spent four seasons as an assistant soccer coach and has coached middle school basketball. As a student-athlete at Portage High School, Coach Strom was a four-year letterwinner in soccer and earned multiple All-Conference, All-Area, and All-District honors. During his senior season, he was named Duneland Conference MVP and earned All-State recognition. He continued his playing career at Valparaiso University, where he was a four-year letterwinner in soccer. A product of the Portage school system, Coach Strom attended Kyle Elementary School, Willowcreek Middle School and Portage High School. He takes great pride in giving back to the community that has been home for nearly his entire life and is committed to helping student-athletes grow both on and off the field.