Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, a three-time Super Bowl champion head coach, visited San Clemente High’s summer football workouts this past week ahead of the 2025 season.
Reid, who owns a beachfront home in Capistrano Beach, was in town enjoying the end of the offseason before NFL training camp opened this week. Tritons head coach Jaime Ortiz has a good relationship with Reid and invited him to attend a summer practice.
The timing aligned perfectly.
The football team at Arizona’s ALA Gilbert North High, coached by former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Ty Detmer, was in town escaping the desert heat, and had a joint practice with SCHS. Detmer and Reid are Brigham Young University alumni and formerly spent time together with the Green Bay Packers.
Reid, who has guided the Chiefs to the Super Bowl in five of the past six seasons, walked onto the SCHS campus wearing one of his iconic Hawaiian shirts, ready to watch practice and speak to the next generation of players.
“(Reid) likes to come out and watch high school kids enjoy the game that they love,” Ortiz told San Clemente Times.
It wasn’t the first time Reid had stopped by a Tritons practice — he also visited in 2017. Since then, Ortiz said they stay in touch “regularly” throughout the year.
Enjoy the moment. That was the longtime coach’s message to the young athletes.
He reminded the Tritons that, at this level, football is still rooted in joy — a true love for the game that revolves around friendships and school pride. That changes in the NFL, where the stakes are higher, the margins thinner, and the game becomes a job.
Rarely do high school teams get the chance to hear from one of the game’s most accomplished coaches. It was a unique opportunity that the players will remember forever.
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid (second from right) and San Clemente High head coach Jaime Ortiz (second from left) post for a photo on the SCHS practice field.
Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente Triton Football Facebook
“It was great to get both squads together and go through a workout,” Ortiz said about having Detmer’s team in attendance. “There’s mutual respect amongst the players and the coaches.”
For San Clemente, the visit capped a productive offseason. The Tritons concluded summer camp with their traditional beach workout last Thursday, a staple of the program that embraces the town’s vibe.
Earlier this summer, the Tritons won the title at the Brave 8 Invitational, a 7-on-7 passing tournament, defeating a talented St. John Bosco High team in the final. The Tritons bested Carlsbad High and La Sierra High to reach the championship game in the eight-team field at St. John Bosco in Bellflower that also included Trinity League powers Mater Dei and Servite.
Ortiz said he’s very impressed with how his players competed and fought for each other during the passing tournaments during the offseason, and he’s pleased with the team’s preparations as the season approaches.
Back in May, SCHS hosted its annual NCAA showcase, inviting Dana Hills High, Capistrano Valley High and Corona del Mar High for a day of drills and evaluation.
“We’ve had a really good offseason; the kids have done a great job, whether it’s in the weight room or on the field,” Ortiz said. “I think our culture is right where we want it to be.”
The Tritons will open their season on Aug. 22 on the road against Tustin High.