Joel Sobotka Accepts Athletic Director and Boys Basketball Head Coaching Position at Valley Catholic School

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Joel Sobotka, who has spent the last six seasons at the University of Portland as an assistant coach to Eric Reveno, has accepted the position of Athletic Director and boys basketball head coach at Valley Catholic School in Beaverton, Ore. Sobotka will continue his duties with Portland through the end of May before transitioning to his new position in June.

“I have always wanted to explore athletic administration and the opportunity to be a head coach again is very exciting,” Sobotka said. “After talking to President Bob Weber and Principal Ross Thomas, I realized that this was a tremendous opportunity and a great fit for me professionally, as well as personally. I am very excited to get started and continue to build on the success that Valley Catholic has achieved both as a school and in athletics.”

“The last six years have arguably been some of the best in University of Portland basketball history and Joel Sobotka's contribution during that time has been unmatched,” Reveno said. “Valley Catholic is gaining an excellent administrator and a coach committed to developing the whole student-athlete. While his expertise, support and friendship will be missed, we wish him all the best."

Reveno hired Sobotka to join his staff shortly after being named the program’s head coach in April of 2006. Within three years the program posted a 19-win season and then ran off the best three-year stretch in school history by averaging 20 wins per year from 2009 to 2011. Over the last six years Portland has made three postseason appearances, earned a Top 25 national ranking, and knocked off four ranked opponents. The Pilots have also graduated all 14 seniors with 11 West Coast Conference All-Academic awards being earned.

“I am so proud of everything we have accomplished over the last six seasons at UP,” Sobotka added. “I want to thank Coach Reveno for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a successful program and outstanding University, while also helping me grow as a person and a coach. UP will always be a special place for me. The hardest thing was telling the team and the coaching staff that I was leaving Portland to pursue another opportunity. I have no doubt that this team is on its way to the next level and headed for a championship. I am very excited that I will be able to watch the program continue to grow and I plan on being at the Chiles Center and cheering on the Pilots as often as I can.”

Sobotka was previously the head coach at Portland State University for four years (1998-02) and served as an assistant coach at Cal State Northridge for three years before joining the Pilots. He has also served as an assistant general manager with the Harlem Globetrotters and a graduate assistant at Arizona State. A 1993 graduate of ASU, Sobotka began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Eastern Oregon (1993-95).

He now takes on a different challenge as a full time administrator and coach with Valley Catholic. The Valiants compete in the Oregon State Athletics Association 3A Classification in the Lewis & Clark League.

“We are thrilled that a person of Coach Sobotka’s success, idealism, and wide experience — especially at an institution such as the University of Portland — will lead both Valley Catholic’s athletic program and boys basketball team,” said Ross Thomas, Principal of Valley Catholic. “It is our goal that athletes here enjoy — and remember — high school sports as the time of their lives, and we do all we can to make every sport both excellent and inclusive. This goal requires an extraordinary leader, and we’re extraordinarily fortunate that Coach Sobotka will lead us.”

Valley Catholic High School fields OSAA teams in volleyball, cross country, soccer, football, basketball, swimming, dance, baseball, softball, tennis, golf, and track and field. The school is currently the top ranked 3A school in the Oregonian Cup, which ranks schools on athletics and activities. The Valiants have won the state title this year in boys cross country and dance (third straight), finished second in girls basketball, while the boys basketball team finished sixth at state.

In addition to the high school, Valley Catholic School includes the Early Learning School (infants 8 weeks old thru Pre-School), Elementary School (KG - 5th grade) and Middle School (grades 6-8).