Jorge ’10 and Syreeta Cordova with their three children. Courtesy of Jorge Cordova
When Jorge Cordova ’10 (general studies) first arrived on campus for his recruiting visit, he loved the environment — not only the mountains and crisp fall air, which he hadn’t experienced growing up in San Diego — but also the welcoming team atmosphere. “They really made me feel like they needed someone like me,” he said. “I also got that feeling of Nevada grit. That’s what they call it, and it really is a true statement.”
As a first-generation Mexican-American, Cordova never imagined getting a full-ride scholarship, but “[the University] made it happen.” And he’s the first to admit, Wolf Pack Football made him the man he is today. His teammates became his family away from home and his coaches were like second fathers, “They were always there if we had questions — not just about sports, but about life.”
With all the University has done for him, Cordova knew he wanted to give back. When he learned the University could be listed as a beneficiary on his life insurance policy, he decided it would be the perfect way to show his commitment and pay it forward. With his wife, Syreeta, he established a planned gift that will benefit the Football Fund and establish the Jorge A. Cordova Family Scholarship Endowment to aid first-generation students.
As a student-athlete Cordova was aware of donors’ impact, recalling a time when the team was lacking jerseys and a donor made a gift to purchase new uniforms. A few years ago, it clicked for Cordova that those donors wouldn’t be around forever and it was his turn to provide that support. “We are those people now,” Cordova said, encouraging other young alumni to give. “This is our alma mater; we all bleed Silver and Blue and say we want to give back and uplift the University, this is how we can do our part.”
Cordova’s career at Nevada is marked by numerous honors including: All-American, firstteam All-Western Athletic Conference, the team’s Golden Helmet Award as MVP, and Outstanding Defensive Player in 2000 and 2002. In 2004, Cordova achieved his dream of playing in the NFL when he was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the draft. To cap off his lifetime of achievements, Cordova was inducted into the Nevada Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
The camaraderie and spirit of friendly competition is what Cordova values most from his time at Nevada, crediting his teammates with helping him reach the NFL. “It was the other football players around me who shaped me and gave me that work ethic,” he said. “We all drove each other to be better, and our standout play got us exposure to NFL scouts.”
When his time in the NFL came to an end after five seasons, Cordova struggled with a loss of identity. “I was Jorge the football player my whole life,” he said. “Honestly, I was lost; I didn’t know what to do in my life.” His wife pushed him to go back to school to complete his bachelor’s degree and Cordova made it a point to finish at Nevada. From there, he earned a master’s in management from University of Phoenix. “When I was done in the NFL, I learned I could no longer use my body to provide for myself and my future family. I really had to turn to my mind and use it the same way I was using my body. I just kept working like I did on the field in the classroom.” Cordova has spent the last 15 years in transportation — starting in an entry-level position and moving up to director for transportation in the North County Transit District. He now has his sights set on becoming chief operating officer.
Outside of his 9 to 5, Cordova founded a nonprofit organization with fellow Wolf Pack alumni Nate Burleson (attended 1999-03) and Justin Morscheck ’05 (finance), ’08 M.S. The Team Dream Foundation supports smaller athletic programs at Division I, II, III schools as well as historically black colleges and universities by assisting them in building new athletic facilities and student housing. Through this work, Cordova has seen firsthand the importance of donor funding and says Nevada has an opportunity to grow even further with the help of young alumni and donors.
“Success is there for the taking,” he said. “The more we give back, the closer we can get to competing with bigger universities. And more success in both athletics and academics means more recruitment and retention in the future.”
For more information on making a planned gift, visit unrlegacy.org or contact Brian Saeman, J.D. ’98, director of planned giving, at (775) 682-5938 or bsaeman@unr.edu.