Portillo knows head coach Kevin Easts system as well as anyone after earning four letters under the Scarlet Raiders mentor at New Jersey City University (2003-06). He joined the Raider coaching staff in 2010 and has helped the team to its first NCAA D-III tournament berth, its first trip to the NJAC Championship match and an ECAC Metro title. An All-Hudson County and all-state soccer player at Dickinson High School in Jersey City, Portillo earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice from New Jersey City in 2007. He was named the Hudson County Coach of the Year in boys soccer after leading Dickinson to its first state title before joining the Raider staff. He holds teaching certification in world language and general content education.