Our Team
Cesar Arroyo
Coach / Mentor
Cesar is an East Oakland product. Being born in Mexico, his parents immigrated to the United States to search for new opportunities. Opportunities included; school and soccer. A game which he fell in love with thanks to his older brother and Rafa Marquez.
Soccer allowed Cesar to be more focused in school, build leadership, build friendships etc. which is why he seen Oakland Genesis as an opportunity to continue to grow as a person and a way to help the youth/young adults of his community.
Dylan Autran
Coach / Mentor
Growing up in Oakland, Dylan has been in and around the Bay Area soccer scene for most of his life. He started playing competitively for Bay Oaks (now East Bay United) at the age of 9, while later finishing his youth career at De Anza Force's Development Academy. He went on to play college soccer at Santa Clara University before playing a few seasons in Europe in France, Finland and Norway. He finished his playing career back at home playing for the local professional team, the Oakland Roots. Since hanging up the boots, Dylan has been coaching at De Anza Force Soccer Club in the South Bay.
Dylan is passionate about the Oakland Genesis project and is excited to help grow the beautiful game in his hometown of Oakland.
Ricardo Cruz
Academic Coach / Soccer Coach
Ricardo is an Oakland Unified School District alumni who graduated from Castlemont High in 2012. He is intimately familiar with the challenges youth from Oakland face as they navigate through the system. He graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Latin American and Latino Studies with a minor in Education. He is currently working on his Master’s in Education.
Soccer has always been a part of Ricardo’s life, from growing up watching and playing with his father and uncles to joining his first team at 5 years old. He understands the importance of engaging in physical activity, working within a team, setting goal and striving to reach them. He is passionate about the Oakland Genesis model of building community and brotherhood and is excited to bridge the gap between the soccer field and classroom, creating a college-going culture beginning in middle school.
Naomi Flores
Academic Coach
Naomi was born and raised in Oakland to Mexican parents. She is an Oakland Unified School District alumni. She graduated from Coliseum College Prep Academy in 2020. She is rooted and educated in Oakland. She currently attends Mills College at Northeastern University, and is hoping to complete her bachelors in psychology, then moving on to get her masters. She knows what it's like to grow up in Oakland and try to beat the odds as a first generation Mexican American. She has been working with kids since high school and she truly enjoys being an extra support system for them whenever they need it.
Naomi grew up around soccer from herself playing to seeing her family play. She started playing soccer at a young age and continued to play in middle school and high school. She heard about Oakland Genesis through students of hers while working at CCPA. She has always liked how Oakland Genesis also highlighted the academic side of soccer on being an athlete and scholar. She is excited to be working alongside other adults who share the same passions of soccer, academics while supporting Oakland youth.
Matt Fondy
Coach and Cofounder
Matt Fondy is a Bay Area native with undergraduate and graduate degrees from UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley, respectively. He brings eight year’s experience playing professional soccer in the United States where he learned how the soccer industry prioritizes players from high-income families.
He first became excited about soccer’s potential to act as a connective social tissue when he worked for a nonprofit in Raleigh, North Carolina. He used the game as a way of connecting recently settled refugees and immigrants with their new communities – it was a great success. He is now thrilled about soccer’s potential to disrupt the pay-to-play model in his hometown. He sees the Oakland Genesis Soccer Club as a way to make a large impact in the Oakland community by empowering the youth who have been unable to participate for reasons outside their control.
Carina Ibarra
Born in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrants, soccer has always been an important part of Carina’s culture. She began playing when she was 5 years old. So it was no surprise that her son picked up the sport at a young age. It was through her son, who plays for the Oakland Genesis 2008 team, that Carina found her way to Oakland Genesis. Inspired by the coach's commitment to academic excellence Carina is delighted to assist the team with academic programming.
Carina has been teaching 6th and 7th grade English at Coliseum College Prep Academy since 2010. She graduated from UC Davis with a degree in English and History in 2007 and earned her Masters in Teaching from USC in 2010. She also has experience as a 6-12 librarian and is eager to share her love of books with the student athletes.
Alexia “Lex” Maldonado
Coach / Mentor
Lex was born in Fremont, California after which her family finally stabilized in Sacramento California in 2005. Lex graduated from Grant Union High School in North Sacramento in 2012. Lex played soccer all four years and was captain of the soccer team for 3 of those years. Lex considers herself a natural leader. Filling the captain role in high school has expanded her experience as a leader on and off the field. Lex was able to find motivation through this role, creating safe, connected, and compassionate spaces among teammates. Lex is currently a student-athlete at Mills College pursuing a bachelor’s in Political Science with a concentration in American Politics with a graduation date planned for Spring of 2023.
Lex began playing soccer at the age of 4 and has been lucky enough to continue to play all throughout her life. Lex feel as though soccer is an extension of her. She lives and breathes the sport and is very passionate about using soccer to create discipline, mental strength, and build meaningful relationships. Furthermore, soccer has helped Lex mold a coaching philosophy around the idea that working hard on and off the field is crucial to becoming successful in all aspects of life. Lex’s goal while being at OGSC is to plant the seed of pursuing a college education through soccer, with higher education always the target we are striving to reach as a unit.
Jonathan Moreno
Coach
Bio coming soon!
Alika Okamitsu
Afterschool Program Director
Alika grew up in the East Bay playing soccer everyday. From practice, to games, to pickup with friends, soccer was always on the schedule. All of that soccer led him to UC Santa Cruz where he played with Matt and Cody.
After school, Alika pursued a career in the construction industry working in Hawaiʻi and Southern California in roles ranging from Environmental Engineer to Construction Manager. He also worked with teacher externs through the Hawaiʻi Dept. of Education Career and Technical Education externship program and coached two high school soccer seasons. Alika highly values the classroom, but knows there is a lot that can be learned on the soccer field. He believes in the OGSC model and is excited to help student-athletes define their goals and
to excel in achieving them.
Cody Pillon
Coach and Cofounder
Cody grew up in Oakland, CA where he fell in love with the game of soccer. Soccer has taken Cody all over the world as both a player & coach, allowing him to develop meaningful relationships with many incredible people.
OGSC was born out of Cody’s desire to coach soccer in his hometown for a club that was truly accessible to any player from Oakland with the talent, desire, and commitment to play competitively. Together with friends, family, and community, Cody is passionate about helping redefine what a youth soccer club can do for Oakland.
Drew Williams
Senior Director of Learning
Coach Drew is an Oakland native and resident with over 20 years of experience working in youth development through sports, the arts, service-learning and more. He has had the opportunity to serve organizations throughout the Bay Area and abroad as a professional coach, teacher, volunteer and non-profit leader. Drew has earned degrees from Harvard Graduate School of Education and San Francisco State University, and holds coaching certifications from the U.S. Soccer Federation, United Soccer Coaches (NSCAA), National Federation of High School Sports, and the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA).
Coach Drew joined the Oakland Genesis team in 2022 because he believes in the power of soccer to change lives, and is committed to making that opportunity accessible to all of Oakland’s youth. As our Senior Director of Learning, Drew leads the effort to ensure that we are a “learning organization," where our leaders, staff, volunteers and student-athletes are all committed to personal and collective growth.
Paul Perreta
Academic Coach
Paul is from Marseilles, IL, a small farming community. Graduating from Northern Illinois University, Paul has an extensive background working with young adults. Having worked with numerous organizations focused on academic and social development for a variety of children from diverse backgrounds, he brings valuable knowledge and experience to young adults navigating their own journey. As an athlete and educator, Paul understands the rigor, organization, discipline, and humility that is required to be a high performing individual.
In 2015, Paul exited education to pursue his passion for food. Today, he is the owner of a wellrenown bakery in San Francisco. Leading a team of all ages and backgrounds, he is constantly developing his teams while simultaneously growing his business. In 2022, Paul began volunteering with Oakland Genesis. He began provided necessary Academic Support for students struggling with curriculum. Today, Paul support Oakland Genesis as an Academic Coach.
Monse OlivA
Monse was born in raised in the Bay Area, calling San Leandro her forever home. She was raised by Salvadoran parents who taught her to value the importance of education. She went on to attend and graduate from Moreau Catholic High School in 2019 and then on to San José State University, where she got her degree in Sociology in May of 2023. During her time through high school and college, she loved the idea of working with and helping students as a mentor. As a senior, she become a mentor to the freshman class and ever since then knew she wanted to continue with working with students of all ages. Since graduating, she became a K-4th Early Literacy Tutor and is now a TK Early Literacy Tutor & Bilingual Aide. Monse has recently joined Oakland Genesis this past Spring 2024 season because her passion didn’t just stop at elementary, she enjoys working with middle/high school student athletes to achieve their academic goals.
Monse grew up around a strong and grounded Salvadoran culture, with an emphasis on family and community. Coming from a big soccer family, Monse has been watching her close family and friends play, watch, and love soccer. She believes it’s a sport that brings her whole family together. She is excited to continue working with everyone at Oakland Genesis to bring more motivation and passion to these young student athletes.
MIRANDA MILLS
Coach / Mentor
Miranda has been running around the pitch since age five, and hasn't stopped playing since. She grew up in southern California as the oldest child in a large family that spent most weekends at soccer tournaments or at the beach. She moved to Oakland after graduating from Cal Poly SLO in 2017 and has fallen in love with the Bay Area soccer community. She plays in adult soccer leagues in her free time, and started coaching for after school elementary programs in OUSD in 2021. She loves being silly with kids of all ages, and can be found in a classroom, on a backpacking trail, or on the field any day of the week. She is working towards an earth science teaching credential so she can blend her love of outdoors and working with kids on a daily basis.
Miranda heard about Oakland Genesis through the Oakland Roots' Switch the Pitch Anti-Racism Coaching Training, and began coaching for OGSC in summer 2024. Her team of silly, goofy, and happy high schoolers make her laugh at every practice and game. The team loves singing together in the car rides to and from any event, and brings this contagious energy with them everywhere. She is proud to be a part of a team of soccer and academic coaches who go all out to further student excellence and happiness in and out of school. The love and dedication her fellow coaches encourage student success in study halls and in practice connects the girls to one another and their community. Free competitive soccer programming is something Miranda dreamed of in Southern California years ago, and she is delighted to be a part of the staff that is realizing the joy of providing that daily.
Ben Alderoty
Academic Coach
Ben is an Oakland transplant by way of New Jersey. He discovered Oakland Genesis when attending an Oakland Roots game in 2021, reached out offering to help & has been working with us ever since. Ben started as a volunteer soccer coach before transitioning into the classroom as an Academic Coach. Ben enjoys the classroom environment where it’s easier to get to know players and initiate healthy male conversations. Being a role model to the boys is a huge joy to Ben that makes him feel more connected to the Oakland community & fulfilled.
Outside of Oakland Genesis Ben works as a Product Manager for Mailchimp. He’s a lifelong soccer player making it up to the collegiate level at Carnegie Mellon University (division 3).
Ronald Towns
Academic Coach / Director of College Pathways
Ronald has worked in public education for 16 years--11 as a classroom teacher, 2 as an Assistant Principal, and 3 as a Principal. He holds a B.A. in Statistics and Secondary Education from Columbia University, a Masters of Education and Teacher Leadership from Elmhurst College, and a Masters of Education from REACH Institute of School Leadership.
Ronald comes to Oakland Genesis, because of a belief in the skills and habits that students learn from playing sports as well as a passion for using sports programming to narrow the achievement gap. His personal mission is to ensure that every Oakland Genesis player leaves the program with the skills and credentials necessary to get in and be successful in college.
In his spare time, Ronald enjoys being with family and friends, exploring new spots in the Bay Area, outdoor workouts, and coffee.
DIO RuiZ
Coach / Mentor
Dio was born and raised in Oakland and attended OUSD schools the whole way through. She graduated from Mills College in 2021 and is a new coach at Oakland Genesis. Drawing upon a lifetime of playing competitive soccer, Dio knows the value of a high quality academic education partnered with high quality soccer education. She hopes to create an after school environment with strong team culture and high expectations, ultimately giving space for students to practice being their best selves through soccer.
MACKENZIE JONES
ACADEMIC COACH
Mackenzie was born and raised in San Francisco. She attended UC Santa Cruz for college and graduated in 2024 with a bachelor's in Psychology. She enjoys working with kids and supporting their success on and off the field. Mackenzie grew up playing soccer and played through high school. She was a student-athlete in college as a part of UC Santa Cruz’s Track and Field program. She joined Oakland Genesis this season and is excited to get to know the awesome student-athletes in the program and support them in the classroom.
MAX ORNSTIL
MEDIA MANAGER
Bio coming soon!
Julio Molina
Academic Coach
Bio Coming Soon
Luis MArtinez
COACH / MENTOR
BIO COMING SOON!
ESTHER LEON
COACH / MENTOR
BIO COMING SOON!
ANDREW TICZON
ACADEMIC COACH
BIO COMING SOON!
ERICA HELLERSTein
GRANT & COPY SUPPORT
Bio coming soon!
JORDAN JESOLVA
MEDIA MANAGER
Bio coming soon!
NOAH GAINES
COACH / MENTOR
Bio coming soon!
ARLO JOHNSON
COACH / MENTOR
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrificing and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” ”
