Teacher Appreciation Week runs from Monday, May 4th through Friday, May 8, 2026.
Our one and only Varsity Boys Soccer Coach, Nico Moreno, has always been more than just a soccer coach; he has been someone that players have been able to look up to and he’s a big part of our Procter R. High School community.
Nico Moreno has been a part of Hug as a coach for many years now. Even through the ups and downs with his teams, he has decided to stick around and only grew to become a better team with his players every year. He’s been a coach who has helped this team win multiple regional titles, making history for the school with his hard work and dedication to the team.
Mr. Moreno started coaching because he wanted to make sure he made a difference for kids, not only on the field, but also outside of the field as well. He aims to teach the players discipline that will stay with them even after high school and in the real world. Nico always reminds his players that even if you don’t end up playing professionally, to always try and become better human beings regardless of how your soccer career turns out.
As he loves to joke with his boys, he always tells them “only have one girlfriend, not many,” and hopes they take that with them as they graduate high school. Nico really connects to his players by not only trying to become their coach but also having to become their second dad, water boy and teacher.
As a coach, it’s very important to wear different hats in order to be able to support the boys in the best way possible, and that’s something that Nico never fails at. Nico enjoys all the games that he wins with his boys. Through every win and loss, he takes them all as wins and as a lesson to grow and become better. It makes him happy seeing the boys bond, forming memories with each other, because that helps them as a team. He always makes sure that his boys are responsible and safe on and off the field, making sure they are all on their best behaviors in order to stay in condition for the season. Coaching allows Nico to relive his own playing days while also help the new generations form.
Ismael Delgado, who used to be one of Nico’s players and now co-coaches with him, shared, “Nico’s coaching has made an impact to me in ways that not many coaches think about. The discipline and the hard work has always stuck with me since high school and still to this day. Being able to work hard and being disciplined, being able to go above and beyond I think is the most important thing I’ve learned from Nico.”
Ismael would love to thank Coach Nico for everything he taught him throughout the years and hopes that that seed continues to grow through different generations. As Ismael has now graduated and is in the real world, he still continues to work with Coach Nico but in a different capacity. At first, he thought it was a little scary, but as time went on, he got to know him on a deeper level. He wants people to know that Nico is a very passionate person; he’s a coach that’s willing to invest in people, which is a very good long term investment.
In a world where sports often only focus on winning, Nico makes sure to teach his boys that the real victory in life is being able to grow as a better individual—leaving a mark on every player and showing them soccer isn’t just about the game. ᯓ⚽️
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Related Links:
@hhsboyssoccer68 (Instagram)
@hhsboyssoccer68 (Linktree)
Boys Soccer (WCSD)
Hug boys soccer team looking to repeat as Region champion (RGJ)
