Taking the helm of Nevada soccer Nov. 22, 2022, Vanessa Valentine has already made her impact on the Pack's soccer program. 

Heading into her second season as Nevada's head coach in 2024, Valentine led Nevada soccer to one of the best turnaround seasons in program history. Winning just three matches in the year prior to her arrival, Valentine led Nevada to six wins en route to the Pack's first bid to the Mountain West Tournament in a decade.

Nevada finished in sixth in the conference standings in Valentine's first season, the highest Mountain West finish for the Pack in the last decade. The 2023 team ranked in the top eight in program history in goals (24), assists (18), shots (211), corner kicks (92) and shutouts (5). 

In her first season, Valentine played a key role in Emily Rich earning a third consecutive All-Mountain West honor and helped goalkeeper Ally Larkin earn a spot on the All-Mountain West Newcomer Team. Four players (Brooklyn Blake, Lauren Muff, Caly Ah Soon, and Penny Murphy) were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team under her watch. 

Coming to Reno as the eighth head coach in Nevada women's soccer history, Valentine brought a wealth of experience as both a head coach and an assistant. Prior to her arrival, she helped Cal to a 10-win season and an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2022. She also played an instrumental role in leading three Cal players to All-Pac 12 honors. 

"After a thorough, national search we are thrilled to welcome Vanessa to the Wolf Pack," Rempe said of Valentine's hiring. "Vanessa is the perfect fit for the University of Nevada. As an outstanding player herself, she is committed to the development of student athletes as soccer players and people. Vanessa has the passion and drive to lead our program. With her connections to the west coast, her experience as a head coach and her ability to recruit and develop exceptional talent, our program will be in great hands."

"Coach Valentine's record of achievement as a coach and mentor is impressive," University President Brian Sandoval said upon Valentine's hiring. "She will emphasize the student-athlete experience at our University, including success in the classroom and playing field, with extensive player involvement in the community. As a team captain and outstanding collegiate soccer player and coach, Vanessa is the right person at the right time to lead our soccer program. We could not be more excited to welcome Coach Valentine to the Wolf Pack Family."

Prior to her one-year stint at Cal, Valentine served as the head coach for the LA Galaxy San Diego Women's Premier Soccer League Team. In her role, she recruited some of the top collegiate players in the country to join her semi-pro team. 

Valentine also spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Oregon State in 2017 and 2018, leading video analysis of the teams and opponents. While with the Beavers, she coached the U.S. Youth National ID training sessions and National ID training camps. 

During the 2016 season, Valentine guided Seattle Pacific to an 11-5-4 record and a berth to the NCAA Division II Playoffs as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Valentine played an instrumental role in Seattle Pacific's run to the championship match of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament. Seattle Pacific also carried a 3.528 team GPA under her watch, the highest of any SPU athletic team that season. 

Valentine also coached at Cal Poly Pomona as both an assistant coach and later a head coach. She helped Cal Poly Ponoma to a 15-6-1 record in her first year as an assistant, a nine-win improvement from the previous season. That performance helped Cal Poly Pomona qualify for the round of 16 in the NCAA Division II Tournament and finish with the second-best ranking in school history at No. 16. As the acting head coach at Cal Poly Pomona the following season, Valentine led the Broncos to a 9-7-2 record. She was also impactful in the classroom, helping her team post a team GPA above 3.4, the second-best of any program.

Valentine's first coaching job was at Hope International in 2011 and 2012, helping the Royals improve by three wins from her first season to her second season. She also helped Hope International to a historic offensive showing from Sept. 17-24, where the Royals scored 26 unanswered goals in back-to-back wins. 

She has also spent time coaching youth soccer at a variety of age ranges for some of the most decorated clubs in Southern California, including three different U.S. Soccer Development Academies.

As a player and a three-time captain for Cal State Fullerton, Valentine was a three-time All-Big West honoree while playing for the Titans. Valentine played professionally in the WPSL for 10 years, spending time with Beach FC, the LA Strikers, San Diego United and the Colorado Force. She also played one season with the Philadelphia Independence in the National Women's Soccer League. Valentine currently plays with the United States Beach Soccer National team, having represented her country by playing in Russia and El Salvador. 

Valentine has a USSF National "C" Coaching License. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2006 with a B.S. in kinesiology and an emphasis in sports psychology.