![Adrian Ochoa]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1677539910/rsdedu/f2fodjdtpcxeaot2lby9/editedIMG_8424web.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1677539910/rsdedu/f2fodjdtpcxeaot2lby9/editedIMG_8424web.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1677539910/rsdedu/f2fodjdtpcxeaot2lby9/editedIMG_8424web.jpg","width":770}])
A former college coach and Richland High teacher will be the next athletic director of Richland High School.
Adrian Ochoa, currently a business and marketing teacher and DECA advisor at Richland High, replaces Athletic Director Mike Edwards, who will be retiring at the end of the 2022-23 school year. District leaders say Mr. Ochoa’s ability to connect with his students inside the classroom and on the field, coupled with his instructional leadership abilities and pride for Bomber athletics, makes him the ideal candidate for the job.
Mr. Ochoa started his career in education as special education paraedcator at Carmichael Middle School in 2009. He went on to hold several positions at Richland High School, including security, administrative assistant, athletic event manager and administrative principal intern.
“My involvements [at Richland High] are unique as I have had the opportunity to see our staff and students through many lenses over the last 13 years, which will strongly benefit me in this role,” Mr. Ochoa said.
His 20 years of coaching experience began in 2001 as co-head coach at Big Bend Community College. Since then, Mr. Ochoa has coached at Queens University of Charlotte, Columbia Basin College and Chiawana High School. He was awarded the 2005-06 Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) Coach of the Year.
As a career and technical education business and marketing teacher, Mr. Ochoa helped reenvision the long-standing program at Richland High by developing high-quality courses and instruction. In 2021, he was a named Washington Association of Marketing Education New Teacher of the Year for his role with the program. Since becoming the advisor for Richland High’s DECA program, student enrollment has more than doubled. He also mentored both the State DECA president and Region 6 President.
Mr. Ochoa holds a Bachelor of Applied Business Management degree from Columbia Basin College and a Master in Education Leadership with a Principal Certificate from Eastern Washington University. He also earned his Career and Technical Education teaching certificate from Eastern Washington University.