Armando Ochoa

Get to Know Armando

Piedmont Soccer Association Director of Operations

What makes Piedmont home for you?

My family and I have lived in Piedmont for about 15 years. What we love most is the combination of a close-knit small-town atmosphere with the convenience of being near a larger city.

More than anything, it’s the people who make Piedmont special. This community takes pride in supporting one another and consistently shows up when help is needed. Our schools are also outstanding, with exceptional educators and staff who are deeply invested in our children’s success. Piedmont is truly a special place with strong support for its youth.

What is your personal connection to soccer or youth sports?

Soccer is an incredible sport because it challenges both the individual and the team. There’s something special about watching a team that is truly connected and playing in sync. You can often see a team’s culture reflected in how they play—strong communication, trust, and players using their strengths to support one another.

The lessons learned on the field translate directly to life. Youth sports teach perseverance, teamwork, hard work, and how to face adversity. These experiences help prepare young athletes for success beyond the game.
I’ve also had the privilege of coaching my own children in recreational soccer before they moved into higher levels of competitive play, which has been incredibly rewarding.

What inspired you to become part of the Piedmont Soccer Association?

Piedmont has a strong soccer community, with many talented kids playing for competitive clubs in surrounding cities. Unfortunately, many families currently have to travel outside our community for practices and matches. I believe Piedmont should offer more local opportunities for players of all ages, especially younger athletes who are just beginning their journey in the sport. Creating strong academy and recreational programs locally will allow more kids to develop their skills and grow their passion and love for the game close to home.

What is your professional background, and what skills from this are you bringing to our team?

I bring over 20 years of leadership experience supporting the global energy industry. I am a bilingual executive leader who has led distributed teams across North and Latin America. My professional focus has been on developing growth strategies and improving operational processes to increase efficiency, accountability, and performance.

Prior to entering the energy sector, I served as a high school mathematics teacher. I also served in the U.S. Air Force and the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

In the youth soccer community, I currently serve as the registrar for a competitive youth soccer club in Oklahoma City, where I support player registration, organizational processes, and club operations.

What is the most important lesson you hope young athletes learn on the field?

Youth sports offer countless life lessons, but two of the most important are perseverance and self-belief.

Imagine being late in a match. It’s hot, you’re exhausted, and you’re not sure how much energy you have left. That’s when athletes learn to dig deep and push forward. Whether they win or lose, they can walk away knowing they gave everything they had and didn’t give up.

Learning to push through challenges, demand more from yourself, and keep going even when you’re tired is a powerful lesson that carries far beyond the soccer field.

What do you hope they’ll learn off the field?

Individual talent matters, but teams accomplish far more together. Every role on a team is important and contributes to the overall success of the group.

I hope young athletes learn respect—for themselves, their teammates, their coaches, and their community. When we invest in developing individuals, we strengthen the entire team. That principle applies not only in sports but in life as well.

What is your all-time favorite sports memory, either playing, watching, or coaching?

Rather than one single moment, my favorite memories come from watching players grow over time.

It’s incredibly rewarding to see athletes develop from learning basic technical skills into confident players who understand the tactical side of the game. It’s something special to see that progression, from early drills and fundamentals to meaningful discussions about formations, strategy, and teamwork.

As a parent and coach, seeing my own kids grow in their understanding and love of the game brings a tremendous sense of pride. Soccer is truly a beautiful sport and an incredibly powerful developmental tool for young athletes.