Bio

Ron Valenzuela was named director of athletics at Southwestern College in September 2023.  He is charged with leading Jaguar Athletics to new heights by reshaping SWC Athletics to achieve championship success and academic excellence while elevating the student-athlete experience. 

With twenty-five years of experience in higher education and college athletics, Valenzuela was previously a member of the senior leadership team and the sport administrator at the University of San Diego for women’s soccer, men’s soccer, men’s golf, women’s swimming and diving, men’s cross country, and women’s cross country/track.  Valenzuela partnered with head coaches to lead the creation and execution of metrics for program success, provided oversight of administrative operations and personnel performance, and fostered an environment conducive to distinction in academics and competitive success.  In addition, Ron developed, implemented, and evaluated programming specific to the student athlete experience in relation to academic achievement, personal development, career preparation, and community service initiatives for USD’s 17 sports and 430 athletes.  Prior to athletics, Valenzuela held roles in career services and student accounts.

“I am both humbled and honored to be named the Athletic Director at Southwestern College and be part of this wonderful community,” said Valenzuela.  “First and foremost, I would like to thank President Sanchez, Tom Gang, Dean, School of Wellness, Exercise Science and Athletics and the SWCCD Governing Board for entrusting me to lead this athletic department that means so much to so many people and to this great institution of higher education.  I am eager and ready to help achieve the expectations, goals, and aspirations we have for Jaguar Athletics.  I have been a resident and community member of San Diego for nearly 30 years and Southwestern College is a special place.  From afar, I have admired how Southwestern College embodies the spirit of South San Diego: diversity, opportunity, and community.  I look forward to serving our students and student-athletes alike” 

Valenzuela, born in Philadelphia, spent his early years in Carpinteria, California and grew up in El Centro, located in the Imperial Valley-the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region.  He played college football at Chadron State College, Nebraska and subsequently transferred to San Diego State earning a bachelor’s degree in public administration.  Ron possesses a master’s degree in counseling from the University of San Diego.  In 2020, Valenzuela was elected to the Imperial Valley Football Coaches Hall of Fame.