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News Release

Walla Walla High School Names Cindy Saldaña Head Girls Soccer Coach (Photo) - 05/01/26

Walla Walla High School has selected Cindy Saldaña as its new head varsity girls soccer coach, elevating a respected and experienced leader from within the program.

Saldaña brings more than 16 years of coaching experience across club, high school, and international levels, along with a diverse playing background that includes collegiate and international competition. Since joining the Wa-Hi program in 2014, she has served in multiple roles—C Team coach, JV coach, varsity assistant, and goalkeeper coach, while helping establish a cohesive, development-focused program from the ground up.

“Cindy has been an impactful coach in our girls soccer program since 2014, where she has developed strong and productive relationships with her student-athletes and consistently had teams that showed growth through the course of the season,” said Athletic Director Chris Ferenz. “We are excited to have her step into the role of head girls’ soccer coach at Walla Walla High School.”

Throughout her tenure, Saldaña has been instrumental in aligning training methods, expectations, and style of play across all program levels. She is widely recognized for designing structured, game-realistic training environments and for her specialized work in goalkeeper development and position-specific training. Her ability to teach the game clearly and connect with athletes at all levels has contributed to the advancement of numerous players to collegiate soccer opportunities.

Prior to her time at Wa-Hi, Saldaña led the girls soccer program at Walla Walla Valley Academy, where she built a culture centered on accountability, academic success, and player development. She also gained international coaching experience in Valencia, Spain, working within a development academy setting and delivering instruction in Spanish while focusing on foundational technical skills and game understanding.

Beyond team coaching, Saldaña has been invited to collaborate with collegiate programs, lead advanced training sessions, and mentor fellow coaches. She is actively involved in coaching education through U.S. Soccer, supporting the development of grassroots coaches and contributing to the growth of coaching standards in the region.

Saldaña holds multiple U.S. Soccer coaching licenses, goalkeeper certifications, and a wide range of advanced training credentials in player development, performance analysis, and inclusive coaching practices. Her leadership extends off the field as well, including her role directing the “Hawks to Wolves – Rompiendo Barreras” program, which supports college access for first-generation and migrant students.

An accomplished educator, Saldaña holds advanced degrees from Grand Canyon University, Walla Walla University, and the Universitat de València. She was named a “39 Under 39” honoree in 2024 and received the Crystal Apple Teacher of the Year award in 2021.

"Saldaña emphasizes character, academic accountability, and long-term athlete development," said Ferenz. "Her comprehensive experience, leadership in coach education, and commitment to student success position her to lead the Blue Devils girls soccer program into its next phase."

Attached Media Files: Saldana.jpg,

Walla Walla High School Names Cindy Saldaña Head Girls Soccer Coach (Photo) - 05/01/26

Walla Walla High School has selected Cindy Saldaña as its new head varsity girls soccer coach, elevating a respected and experienced leader from within the program.

Saldaña brings more than 16 years of coaching experience across club, high school, and international levels, along with a diverse playing background that includes collegiate and international competition. Since joining the Wa-Hi program in 2014, she has served in multiple roles—C Team coach, JV coach, varsity assistant, and goalkeeper coach, while helping establish a cohesive, development-focused program from the ground up.

“Cindy has been an impactful coach in our girls soccer program since 2014, where she has developed strong and productive relationships with her student-athletes and consistently had teams that showed growth through the course of the season,” said Athletic Director Chris Ferenz. “We are excited to have her step into the role of head girls’ soccer coach at Walla Walla High School.”

Throughout her tenure, Saldaña has been instrumental in aligning training methods, expectations, and style of play across all program levels. She is widely recognized for designing structured, game-realistic training environments and for her specialized work in goalkeeper development and position-specific training. Her ability to teach the game clearly and connect with athletes at all levels has contributed to the advancement of numerous players to collegiate soccer opportunities.

Prior to her time at Wa-Hi, Saldaña led the girls soccer program at Walla Walla Valley Academy, where she built a culture centered on accountability, academic success, and player development. She also gained international coaching experience in Valencia, Spain, working within a development academy setting and delivering instruction in Spanish while focusing on foundational technical skills and game understanding.

Beyond team coaching, Saldaña has been invited to collaborate with collegiate programs, lead advanced training sessions, and mentor fellow coaches. She is actively involved in coaching education through U.S. Soccer, supporting the development of grassroots coaches and contributing to the growth of coaching standards in the region.

Saldaña holds multiple U.S. Soccer coaching licenses, goalkeeper certifications, and a wide range of advanced training credentials in player development, performance analysis, and inclusive coaching practices. Her leadership extends off the field as well, including her role directing the “Hawks to Wolves – Rompiendo Barreras” program, which supports college access for first-generation and migrant students.

An accomplished educator, Saldaña holds advanced degrees from Grand Canyon University, Walla Walla University, and the Universitat de València. She was named a “39 Under 39” honoree in 2024 and received the Crystal Apple Teacher of the Year award in 2021.

"Saldaña emphasizes character, academic accountability, and long-term athlete development," said Ferenz. "Her comprehensive experience, leadership in coach education, and commitment to student success position her to lead the Blue Devils girls soccer program into its next phase."

Attached Media Files: Saldana.jpg,