BERKELEY – Chris Ortega, who played for the Cal men's soccer program from 2009-11, passed away unexpectedly last Friday, Cal head coach Kevin Grimes said. The San Diego-area product was 29.
 
"Chris was a wonderful person and friend to so many of us," Grimes said. "He could light up a room with his smile and sense of humor. His teammates loved playing with him and his coaches loved training him. He was as versatile of a player as I ever had. There were seasons where he played two to three different positions from week to week depending on what the team needed. He did this seamlessly because he was a great player and only wanted to have his team be successful."
 
Hailing from Chula Vista, California, Ortega logged 49 career games for the Golden Bears, often playing in midfield and on the backline. He was a key contributor on Cal's talented Pac-12 championship team in 2010 and started every game of the 2010 postseason as the Bears reached the NCAA quarterfinals.
 
Ortega was still involved with the game as a coach, serving on staff with Barca Academy in San Diego.
 
"Chris called me two weeks ago and was just glowing about his coaching position with Barca Academy in San Diego," Grimes said. "He was telling me how the coaching methods and philosophy were just like his playing days at Cal. It was a great phone call that I'll never forget. I was so glad he was in a great place in his life."