Central Catholic High School and San Antonio’s Legendary Coach, Joe Cortez Passes Away At 94

RIP Papa Joe!

October 9, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on October 9, 2026

Joe Cortez, the legendary coach of a San Antonio High School, lost his life at the age of 94 on September 24, 2026.

The longtime Central Catholic High School basketball coach and one of the best prep figures of San Antonio lost his life in hospice care surrounded by his family.

Joe Cortez is a Central Catholic High School alumnus who spent 36 years leading the school’s basketball program.

The late, legendary coach helped Buttons win almost 800 games and guided them to 1 state championship before retiring in 1995.

Across his career, spanning a four-decade period, including his four seasons at Eacock Military Academy, he has achieved 823 career wins.

A Huge Loss for San Antonio

Central High School released the following statement following the Coach’s death;

Central Catholic mourns the passing of a legend — Coach Joe Cortez, Class of 1950. Surrounded by family and with a rosary in his hand, Coach Cortez entered eternal rest at the age of 94.

He didn’t just coach basketball — he coached life. Coach Cortez’s legacy extends far beyond his 36 years on the basketball court at Central Catholic.

A teacher, mentor, and father figure to countless young men, he embodied what it means to be a Brother of Central Catholic. From state championships to lifelong friendships, his greatest victories were always measured in hearts, not trophies. Rest in peace, Coach.

Your example, your faith, and your love for your family and for the Buttons will live on forever.

Under the Coach, the high school became a powerhouse in San Antonio, thanks to his coaching style, discipline, and toughness surrounding the team.

“He was big and intimidating and had a deep voice,” said fellow coach Charlie Boggess. “His guys played like demons. No one played harder.”

In the mid-1960s, the high school won a staggering 46 games in a row, including four consecutive Texas Christian Interscholastic League titles.

Joe Cortez is one of the successful high school coaches in San Antonio. (Source: Central Catholic)

Danny Kellum, the former player who helped win the 1982 state title in five overtime games under the coach, said Cortez pushed his players both on and off the court.

“He taught us how to compete, how to carry ourselves, and how to prepare for life,” said Danny.

Another former student, Anthony, added, “Rest in Peace, Coach. You worked us like dogs, but you helped shape not only some amazing basketball players, but more importantly, some amazing men — teammates I had the privilege to share the court with. Thank you for showing me what passion, dedication, pride, and love for the game truly mean. I’ll always be proud to say you were my coach and honored to be part of the Central Catholic Buttons. Now let’s go do some stairs!”

Beyond High School sports, he also coached at Trinity University in Mexico’s professional league, for the Mexican National Team, and even at the Spurs Basketball Camp.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Joe Cortez was also inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame and the Latin American Sports Hall of Fame.
• As a player of Central Catholic, Joe Cortez also won two TCIL state titles.
• Cortez was also the first Hispanic basketball player at the University of Texas. He later earned a degree from St. Mary’s University.

• Check other Articles on

Anish Koirala has loved sports since he was a kid. He grew up playing basketball and soccer, and that passion stayed with him over the years. Today, Anish works as a writer and editor, sharing his knowledge and love for the game through articles and stories. He uses his playing experience to make his writing clear, thoughtful, and fun to read.

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