Reggie Wright is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Peoria High School for AZPreps365.com.

When it comes to sports and teams in general, players and coaches come and go, but the team is forever.

In the case of the Peoria varsity football team, there are exceptions to that rule.

At the heart of the Panther’s coaching staff lies Ryan Esquivel, a volunteer coach who has been part of the team for more than 20 years.

Ryan is considered among his colleagues to be a key part of the team and is adored by many around the Peoria High School campus.

“No one takes losses harder, and nobody gets excited more than Ryan when we win games," said Elmar Cobos, one of the assistant coaches for Peoria. "He’s just the heart and soul of Peoria football.”

Cobos got to know him more through his relationship with Ryan’s late father, Charles Esquivel, better known by family and friends as Chuck.

“I knew Ryan when he was smaller because of his dad. His dad was very well-known to the Arizona high school football community. He coached at Cactus and Ironwood High School and was also the athletic director at [Raymond S.] Kellis,” Cobos said.

Chuck Esquivel was well known for his stint at Ironwood High School, serving as head coach from 1996 to 2002.

Esquivel passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer in 2017. Ryan cites his father as the inspiration for his love for the game of football.

“My dad’s time coaching really left a huge impact on me. He has been a great influence because it has allowed me to do what I have been doing for a long time,” Ryan said.

Ryan’s presence with the team has continued to make an impact on his fellow staff members and players, forming and maintaining bonds with them well after they graduate or step down from their roles on the team.

Chris Miranda, one of the current assistant coaches and alumni of Peoria High School, happened to be one of those connections.

During his time in high school, Miranda played as a wide receiver and quarterback on the varsity football team and got to know Ryan very well over the course of his high school career.

“He was kind of like a teammate to everybody when I was here,” he said. “He was always looking out for everyone, always being the first one to shake you up if you did something good. As time went on and I got into coaching, I got to know him a little more and it’s a pretty cool thing to see.”

On gamedays, Ryan is usually seen pacing up and down the sidelines, giving words of encouragement to players after a big play or simply to boost player morale. He always looks forward to the monumental games that can define a season.

“My favorite games are probably the rivalry games and the homecoming games. Those two are the best games that I always see,” he said. 

Currently into his 21st season with the Panthers, Ryan, just like other fans and followers of Peoria, is optimistic about how this season will end.

“I hope that we do well this year, and make it to state,” he said.