Valley Native Santesteban Named Reedley College Director of Athletics

Jan 12, 2018

Reedley College rings in the New Year with the hiring of Dr. David Santesteban (Santa-stay-bawn) as the new Director of Athletics. A 1987 graduate of Fresno’s Hoover High School, Santesteban brings over 30 years of experience to Reedley as a student-athlete, coach, teacher and administrator.

“I am thrilled to have Dr. Santesteban come home to join our team,” said Reedley College President Dr. Sandra Caldwell. “David has a proven track record on all levels of athletics, from the playing field to administration. I have no doubt he will take our mens’ and womens’ programs to new heights, while watching our student-athletes continue to excel on the playing field and in the classroom.” 

An All-Conference selection with the 1987 and 1988 Fresno City College Men’s Soccer team, Santesteban then transferred to Fresno State, where he played for legendary Head Coach Jose Elgorriaga and won consecutive Big West Championships during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. He graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelors and Masters degree in Physical Education. 

Santesteban moved to the Land of Enchantment, where at the University of New Mexico, he obtained his PhD in Sport Administration, and was also an Assistant Coach for the Men’s Soccer Team. From 2000-2003, Santesteban was the Head Coach and Physical Education Instructor at Southwestern Oregon Community College. The Lakers made the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College playoffs in each of his three seasons.

Santesteban was named Athletic Director and Head Men’s Soccer Coach at San Jacinto College in Houston in 2004. In his eight years there as head coach, the Coyotes achieved numerous #1 national rankings, one National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) runner-up finish, and three Final Four appearances. SJC won five Region 14 Championships and four Mid-South District titles. Santesteban won four NJCAA District Coach of the Year awards and coached two NJCAA Players of the Year, while also seeing many of his players transfer to NCAA and NAIA schools, then play at the professional level, including Major League Soccer (MLS).

Santesteban left San Jacinto in 2012 to become a Technical Advisor for the United States Soccer Federation, which included a stint as an Assistant Coach for the Boys’ U14 and U15 national teams.

From there, Coach Santesteban went to the University of the Virgin Islands and led the men’s soccer team to an appearance in the Final Four. As Interim Athletic Director, he guided the department into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). 

Santesteban returned to the Central Valley in 2016, and served as the Technical Director of the California Odyssey Soccer Club, the most successful youth soccer club in the Fresno Area. He additionally spearheaded the clubs’ return to the United States Soccer Development Academy, the highest level of youth soccer in the country. Santesteban has held numerous National Committee roles, including the National Chair for Soccer in the NJCAA, as well as All-America Committee Chair for Junior Colleges with the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America). 

At Reedley College, Santesteban will oversee 12 sports, five on the men’s side, and seven women’s programs.

Santesteban, who is fluent in Spanish, has three daughters, Gabby (20), Mikaela (16) and Eliana (13). He is the son of Dr. Ignacio Santesteban, who taught Spanish at Fresno State for 30 years.

If you would like to schedule an interview with Dr. Santesteban, please contact College Director of Marketing and Communications George Takata at (559) 213-3034. 

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