Alumni Spotlight: Valentin Saldaña MA '20

Saldaña was raised in the underserved community of central Richmond where becoming a general manager of a professional sports organization may have seemed unattainable. As Saldaña bluntly declares: “Where I am from, going to college is uncommon, even less so earning a master’s degree or aspiring to be a general manager of any sports franchise. Due to the scarcity of minority representation in executive positions, we have very few individuals to look up to. In addition, as a first generation college graduate, I have had to learn as I have progressed. Despite all of the challenges, I have always been disciplined and believed in my plan to achieve my goals. I want to set a good example for my sisters and make all the sacrifices my parents made for me worthwhile.” After working several jobs in retail, operations, and sales in non-sporting organizations, he was offered a full-time position as an Assistant Team Manager for the Oakland Roots just as he was starting his master’s degree. The "Oakland Roots Sports Club seeks to harness the magic of Oakland and the power of sport as a force for social good,” to which Saldaña adds, “we are using soccer to enhance the opportunities available to Oakland’s diverse youth.”

Saldaña rapidly proved his worth and was promoted to Director of Team Operations (DTO) six months later. In this new position, he is responsible for the club’s logistics, including handling players’ contracts, health insurance, travel plans, and equipment. He uses skills and information that he learned in the Administration of Kinesiology and External Relations courses daily, and attributes that coursework to his success. Saldaña has found himself negotiating sponsorship deals, staging tryouts, and developing marketing materials in his role with the club, all of which were components of his coursework. In addition to the everyday operations of running a professional soccer club, the pandemic has added the responsibility of orchestrating Covid-19 testing protocols and strict safety measures, including detailed practice schedules and contact tracing as needed.

With Saldaña working behind the scenes to support his soccer club, the Oakland Roots have already reached new heights by jumping from the 3rd division into the United Soccer League Championship for the 2021 season, the division right below the MLS. Saldaña strongly believes that “there is no other professional soccer club in the United States which is as invested in their community as the Oakland Roots. We benefit from the locality as Oakland is more blue-collar and people are loyal to their soil. I want to be able to create a pathway of possibilities for Richmond and Oakland’s youth, and set the tone for future generations not just in sports but in any aspect of life. Anything is achievable when one has a plan, is dedicated, and is surrounded by the right people.” In closing, Saldaña is committed and true to his East Bay roots as well as to his two-time alma mater, and looks forward to supporting both of them in the future.