After 42 years offering youth football to Hollister children,
there isn’t much the Hollister Vikings can do that is new – but
that’s not going to stop new president Jeff Valenzuela from
trying.
After 42 years offering youth football to Hollister children, there isn’t much the Hollister Vikings can do that is new – but that’s not going to stop new president Jeff Valenzuela from trying.
After being involved off-and-on with the Vikings’ program since 1998, and having watched his son go through the program, Valenzuela was offered the presidency before the year started. His decision to say “yes” didn’t take very long.
“I couldn’t leave,” he said. “It’s the people – they are really great people.”
He continued, “the people make this a special organization.”
To Valenzuela, the opportunity to become president of the Vikings was a way to teach Hollister children the game he loves and some civic pride. After 42 years of Vikings football, Valenzuela wants the program to focus on the surrounding community by creating a sense of Hollister pride with the young football players.
“I want the kids to be aware of their surroundings,” he said. “I want them to care what goes on around them. I want them to be solidly grounded in Hollister.”
To do that, Valenzuela – who is also the coach of the junior midgets – is asking the players, and their parents, to participate in his efforts to communicate with the community through fundraisers or by helping those in need.
“The community has to be important to us,” he said.
It’s something that he taught his children, and he hopes it’s something the Viking players become proud of.
With more than 260 athletes – and six teams, including cheer – getting that message across is difficult, but Valenzuela believes it is necessary.
“It makes kids want to be part of the community,” he said. “And that is what is important.”
To Valenzuela, the community needs the Vikings help as much as the Vikings need the community’s support to help fund its program, he said.
After 13 years – and no more children on the team – Valenzuela is still with the Vikings because he loves the people in the program, he said. He hasn’t had a child play with the program in nearly five years, but he has always been involved in some capacity.
And that involvement made him an easy choice for president, Tom Vivian said.
For Vivian, who handles public relations for the Vikings, Valenzuela’s message is important and well received.
“I’ve never thought of some of the things he wants to do,” he said. “It’s been great.”
He added, “I’m totally for it. I’m excited about them.”
For now, Valenzuela will focus on getting all the team prepared for a jamboree on Aug. 28 – the first time many players will take part in a game.
“That’s the easy thing,” he said. “We want to get the kids ready and make sure everyone plays.”
The toughest transition hasn’t been coaching again – instead it’s been the meetings about fundraisers or the health of the program, Valenzuela said.
“I’m still getting used to them, but it’s important,” he said.
The Vikings schedule will not be completed until Aug. 27, Vivian said.
