Riley Orozco"I feel great about this coaching staff and the direction that we are already heading with Boise State wrestling," Mendoza said. "In the process of filling out the staff I wanted coaches that would be committed to developing men and building a great culture. These are quality coaches with great character and unbelievable commitment to coaching.
"Obviously I know Coach Orozco after working with him for the last five years and have witnessed his tremendous growth as a coach and his ability to develop wrestlers. Levi Jones and Andrew Hochstrasser are eager to continue building on the history of success that they helped establish as student-athletes. Levi will make a big impact with his passion, intensity and his extensive training experience. Andrew is a tremendous addition as the volunteer coach and will be a huge inspiration for the program as he continues his international wrestling career and quest to make world and Olympic teams in the future."
Jones ranked as high as third in the country during his Bronco career and was a member of three Pac-12 Championship teams. He placed at the conference tournament four times, earning three trips to the NCAA Championships individually.
Professionally, Jones worked with the Sun Devils during the 2011-12 season, helping five wrestlers reach the NCAA Tournament. He has since served as the camp director and owner of Kaizen Intensive Wrestling Camps in Washington, hosting more than 400 high school wrestlers and managing a staff of more than 60 on an annual basis.
"I am honored to step in as an assistant coach and thankful Coach Mendoza was ready to get to work with both Riley and myself by his side," Jones said. "This program will be great because we are surrounded by an athletic department that believes in us. I fully understand and respect the foundation that was laid before me and plan to commit at extraordinary levels to becoming a better coach each day."
While wrestling for the Roadrunners, Orozco became just the 12th individual in school history to eclipse 100 victories, and the first to reach the NCAA Tournament four times. He captured the Pac-12 Championship individually at 197 pounds during his junior season.
As an assistant with CSU Bakersfield, Orozco helped Mendoza lead the program into the top 25 of the USA Today/National Wrestling Coaches Association Division I Coaches Poll, the school's first ranking in 15 years. He oversaw the day-to-day operations for student-athletes, including coordination with the academic staff, resulting in a perfect single-year Academic Progress Rate score each of his final two seasons.
"I would like to thank Curt Apsey and Coach Mendoza for giving me the opportunity to be part of the Bronco family," Orozco said. "I have always had a lot of respect for the Boise State wrestling program and I am excited to be a part of it. I am ready to immerse myself and get to work."
Orozco earned a bachelor's in criminal justice in 2011 and a master's in public administration this past June, both from CSU Bakersfield. Jones earned his bachelor's in communications from Boise State in 2011.
Hochstrasser won the Pac-12 Championship individually in both 2009 and 2011, garnering All-America honors each season. He finished runner-up at the national tournament in 2011. Since graduating from Boise State, Hochstrasser has finished fourth at the US Olympic Trials, captured a pair of Pan American Championships (2014-15) and twice finished runner-up at the US Open (2014-15).
"Not very many wrestlers get the opportunity to continue to wrestle after their collegiate careers," Hochstrasser said. "I am incredibly fortunate to have a coaching staff that believes in me and my abilities as an athlete and as a coach. I am looking forward to helping Boise State wrestling succeed."
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