When Coach Flores first stepped onto the campus of Hendrix College, his sights were set on law school. Majoring in classics, he imagined a future filled with courtrooms and legal briefs. But as the semesters rolled on, something didn’t feel right. Law wasn’t his interest anymore.
Everything changed when he enrolled in a teaching course during college. What started as an elective became a spark that lit a new path. Inspired by the experience, Coach Flores decided to give teaching a try. His first job? Surprisingly, math, a subject far from Latin, but one that taught him adaptability and creativity.
Coach Flores is known for teaching Latin to middle and high school students. He understands the challenge. Latin can feel boring if taught with books and paper like the way people are always taught new languages. So he brings creativity into the classroom with games, interactive activities, and even storytelling that connects ancient Rome to modern life. His goal is simply to make students excited to learn.
But teaching isn’t his only passion. As a soccer coach, Coach Flores finds joy in watching athletes grow not just in skill, but in character. “It’s more than just the sport,” he says. “It’s about life skills, teamwork, and creating lifelong memories.” His favorite part is seeing hard work pay off and knowing those lessons will stick with his players long after the final whistle and even graduation.
Coaching and teaching have shaped Coach Flores profoundly. They’ve made him a better parent, mentor, and guide. He shares his own experiences to help students navigate struggles both inside and outside the classroom. Building strong relationships is key, he takes time to know each student personally, showing he cares about them as individuals.
Of course, there are tough seasons. Burnout happens. But Coach Flores philosophy is simple, “Leave it at the field. Tomorrow is a new day.” He believes in resilience, positivity, and never letting losses define you.
Outside of school, Coach Flores loves watching hockey, attending NHL games, swimming at the beach, and being in the water in general. Sports have always been part of his life he ran cross country and played lacrosse all four years in college, and in high school, he added soccer and track to the mix. His favorite memories are college road trips with teammates, traveling to new states, and bonding on bus rides, moments that last a lifetime.
If he weren’t teaching or coaching, Coach Flores imagines he’d be in sales, marketing, or even working as a mechanic, fields that appeal to him. But teaching came later, unexpectedly, and now he can’t imagine doing anything else.
Coach Flores favorite subject growing up was history, a passion that still drives him today. He loves documentaries, exploring different cultures, and learning about the past. The biggest challenge was time management, balancing academics and sports was never easy, but it taught him discipline.
From Classics major to inspiring teacher and coach, Coach Flores’s story is one of adaptability, passion, and purpose, a reminder that sometimes the path we least expect becomes the one we were meant to follow.
