Tackling Barriers: A Life Shaped by Football for Dr. Hernandez

Tú puedes hacer lo que tú quieres en tu vida.

You can do what you want in your life.

The words still ring true for Dr. Joe Hernandez — words first spoken by his mother, a woman who never spoke English yet built her family’s foundation on faith and the power of education.

Growing up in Nogales, Ariz., just steps from the U.S.–Mexico border, Hernandez never imagined how far football would take him. His parents, who both had limited schooling, believed deeply in the value of learning. 

“Even though they didn’t have any education, they instilled in all of us the value of an education,” Hernandez said. “I am where I am today because of NAU and Lumberjack football. My parents could never have afforded to send me to college.”

From Nogales to the Peaks

In 1969, Hernandez’s athletic ability caught the eye of NAU head coach John Symank and assistant Lamar McCann, both former Green Bay Packers who played for the legendary Vince Lombardi. His high school coach, an NAU alum himself, helped make the connection, setting Hernandez on a path that would change his life.

Leaving home for Flagstaff was his first time truly stepping into a new world. 

“It was quite an experience,” he said. “Everybody spoke Spanish in Nogales ... even the dogs barked in Spanish. So coming up to Flagstaff was very much a culture shock.”

Hernandez quickly realized that while he could handle himself on the field, he had some catching up to do in the classroom. 

“My mom never spoke a word of English,” he said. “When I came up to NAU, that’s when I realized I wasn’t very proficient in English. It took me a while, but thank God I got it done.”

There wasn’t the kind of academic support system that student-athletes benefit from today. “

It was more like sink or swim,” Hernandez said with a laugh. “We were expected to go to class and get it done. I had some good friends and teammates who helped me and I made it work.”

A Scholar, Educator, and Coach

After earning his degree, Hernandez followed one of his former assistant coaches to Douglas High School, another border town, to serve as defensive coordinator. He would spend nearly seven years there before coaching the Gila Monsters of Eastern Arizona College and pursuing graduate work.

He eventually earned both his master’s and doctorate degrees — fittingly, his only graduation walk was for his doctorate. 

“I wanted my parents to see me walk,” Hernandez said. “That was my way of thanking them for instilling that value in me.”

Education became not just his career, but his calling. He went on to serve as a teacher, coach and high school administrator, dedicating decades to helping students — especially those who, like him, faced language barriers and economic challenges — find success through education.

“I’ve always told the kids I work with that education is their vehicle to success,” Hernandez said. “It doesn’t have to be college; it could be vocational school, but they need something to fall back on, especially if they are a minority.”

Lessons From the Gridiron

While academics became his life’s mission, Hernandez’s love for football never wavered. A standout linebacker for the Lumberjacks, he led the team in tackles and interceptions his senior year.

“I was blessed that God gave me a little bit of athletic ability,” he said. “My senior year, I really focused on being the best I could be on and off the field.”

Football opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed. 

“NAU football gave me my education,” Hernandez said. “Without it, none of what came after would have been possible.”

His memories from those days remain vivid — the snow games in old Lumberjack Stadium, road trips across the Big Sky, and the once-in-a-lifetime team trip to Hawai‘i.

“I had never traveled like that before,” he said. “Montana, Idaho, Boise, Hawai‘i ... I got to see places I’d never dreamed of.”

Giving Back to the Blue and Gold

Even in retirement, Hernandez remains connected to NAU. Over the years, he’s donated to the athletics scholarship fund and supported the Student-Athlete High Performance Center — a project that brought together many of his old teammates.

“When Mike Nesbitt approached us about helping with the center, I wanted to be part of it,” he said. “A lot of us who played together we all wanted to give back.”

He also remains involved in the broader Arizona high school sports community, helping run state playoff events. 

“I’m a retired athletic director,” he said. “But I still like to be around the game and the people who make it special.”

A Legacy Rooted in Family and Faith

Today, Hernandez splits time between Phoenix and his home in Munds Park. His story, though, is about more than football or education, it’s about a family’s belief that centers on the power of a mindset.

“My mom was the rock of our family,” he said. “All of us got an education. One of my brothers won a national championship at Arizona Western, another was an All-American in baseball, my sister graduated from NAU, and my younger brother served nearly three decades in the military.”

The passion for education has carried over to Dr. Hernandez’s children. “I’m very proud of my kids,” Hernandez said. “They’re my pride and joy. One of my sons is a captain with the Goodyear Fire Department, my daughter is a portfolio manager for Goldman Sachs, and her sister is pursuing a nursing degree.”

Through it all, his mother’s words remain his compass: Tú puedes hacer lo que tú quieres en tu vida.

For Dr. Joe Hernandez, that phrase became more than encouragement — it became a lifelong truth. From a Spanish-speaking kid in Nogales to a football scholarship at NAU, to a career devoted to shaping young minds, he’s lived those words every step of the way.