The Athletic Trainer Who Became Midland Legacy’s Travel Coordinator

For most Athletic Trainers, game day means managing hydration, taping ankles, and treating injuries. For Midland Legacy’s Steven Ortiz, it also means mapping routes, loading buses, and calculating snack stops.

As the Rebels embarked on a grueling six-game road stretch covering 2,600 miles across Texas, Ortiz found himself balancing sports medicine and logistics.

“I thought Coach Hartman really just didn’t like me at that point,” he joked about the early season travel schedule.

But Ortiz quickly turned challenge into opportunity — creating systems to keep athletes healthy and prepared no matter the zip code.

From six-hour bus rides to overnight stays, Ortiz coordinated travel meals, hydration planning, and recovery routines.

“If you want to teach a kid how to be on time, put a six-hour road trip in front of them and say, ‘You can’t be late because this bus will leave without you,’” he said.

Head Coach Clint Hartman credits Ortiz for keeping the team functioning under constant motion.

“We’re better for the journey,” Hartman said. “All that time together builds toughness and discipline.”

In West Texas, where schools in District 2-6A are separated by hundreds of miles, Ortiz’s behind-the-scenes work ensures the Rebels arrive ready to compete — and recover. Every trip demands careful planning: loading equipment, scheduling treatments, and making sure no player is left behind, literally or medically.

The dual responsibilities push Ortiz beyond traditional Athletic Training — part medic, part operations manager, part mentor. Yet he wouldn’t trade it.

“It’s about making sure they’re ready — wherever we play,” Ortiz said.

With playoffs on the horizon, the Rebels’ resilience on the road reflects the same preparation Ortiz brings to every long-haul Friday night: professional precision, athletic care, and a perfectly packed first-aid kit. Read more here!