Photo by: Brian Westerholt / Sports On Film
2007 NCAA Champion Julian Valentin (‘07) Joins Deac2Deac Podcast
7/14/2022 12:00:00 PM | General
Valentin was recently on campus to meet with our current student-athletes to discuss how to best build their brands and utilize Wake Forest Athletics partner, Opendorse.
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Julian Valentin, who is a 2007 NCAA Champion and graduate of Wake Forest University, joined the Deac2Deac Podcast this week. Valentin became a Demon Deacon in 2004 and was part of the class that took Wake Forest men's soccer to the pinnacle of the sport while claiming a national title as a senior.
Fast forward to about a year ago, Valentin became head of brand and athlete marketing for Opendorse — a company that was launched in 2012 that exists to make every athlete – from preps to pros – more accessible to the people who support them.
It was the perfect time for a change for Valentin, who had worked for nearly 11 years in the Colorado Rockies front office, most recently as the director of brand management and social media.
Working with Opendorse has allowed Valentin the opportunity to work directly once again with his friends at Wake Forest, as director of athletes John Currie works to ensure Demon Deacon student-athletes are positioned to provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
Valentin met his wife, former Wake Forest women's soccer player Kristen (Kemp) Valentin, on his recruiting visit to campus and the two remained friends throughout their time together at Wake Forest. They collectively have stayed in tune and connected to their respective programs.
"The relationships I formed at Wake Forest have carried me through life. It's part of who I am every step of the way. It truly is that family atmosphere that sticks with you even after you leave."
Over the course of Valentin's career in Winston-Salem, the Deacs went from competing for conference championships and a couple wins in the NCAA Tourney to winning the College Cup.
It was the entire community at Wake Forest that helped Valentin thrive in Winston-Salem and beyond. He earned All-ACC and preseason All-American honors as an upperclassman for Wake Forest, and was considered one of the top defenders on the national championship Demon Deacons.
Listeners are encouraged to send feedback and ideas to smithka@wfu.edu or @Deac2Deac on Twitter.
The Deac2Deac podcast is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube and GoDeacs.com/Watch.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Julian Valentin, who is a 2007 NCAA Champion and graduate of Wake Forest University, joined the Deac2Deac Podcast this week. Valentin became a Demon Deacon in 2004 and was part of the class that took Wake Forest men's soccer to the pinnacle of the sport while claiming a national title as a senior.
Fast forward to about a year ago, Valentin became head of brand and athlete marketing for Opendorse — a company that was launched in 2012 that exists to make every athlete – from preps to pros – more accessible to the people who support them.
It was the perfect time for a change for Valentin, who had worked for nearly 11 years in the Colorado Rockies front office, most recently as the director of brand management and social media.
Working with Opendorse has allowed Valentin the opportunity to work directly once again with his friends at Wake Forest, as director of athletes John Currie works to ensure Demon Deacon student-athletes are positioned to provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
Valentin met his wife, former Wake Forest women's soccer player Kristen (Kemp) Valentin, on his recruiting visit to campus and the two remained friends throughout their time together at Wake Forest. They collectively have stayed in tune and connected to their respective programs.
"The relationships I formed at Wake Forest have carried me through life. It's part of who I am every step of the way. It truly is that family atmosphere that sticks with you even after you leave."
Over the course of Valentin's career in Winston-Salem, the Deacs went from competing for conference championships and a couple wins in the NCAA Tourney to winning the College Cup.
It was the entire community at Wake Forest that helped Valentin thrive in Winston-Salem and beyond. He earned All-ACC and preseason All-American honors as an upperclassman for Wake Forest, and was considered one of the top defenders on the national championship Demon Deacons.
Listeners are encouraged to send feedback and ideas to smithka@wfu.edu or @Deac2Deac on Twitter.
The Deac2Deac podcast is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube and GoDeacs.com/Watch.
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