Fresno State Athletics
Bolton announces soccer staff
1/23/2026 11:56:00 AM | Women's Soccer
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State soccer head coach Gabriel Bolton has announced the additions of associate head coach Chris Malenab, assistant coach Amanda Valentine, and director of soccer operations Brynn Phillips to his staff for the 2026 season.
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Bolton was hired as the head coach of the Bulldogs in December 2025, and has filled out his coaching staff while also gathering commitments to build the roster for the season ahead.
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Malenab began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Consumnes River College in 2004, followed by three-year stints at Stanislaus State (2009-11)Â and San Joaquin Delta College (2012-14) in the same capacity.
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Malenab climbed into the professional coaching ranks in 2014, spending eight seasons with multiple clubs in the United Soccer League, starting with Sacramento Republic FC (2014-2017). There, he helped lead the club to four playoff appearances, a 2014 USL Cup Championship, and a 2016 Western Conference regular season title. Following his tenure with Sacramento Republic FC, Malenab served as an assistant coach for Reno 1868 FC (2018-2020) and a first assistant coach for Oakland Roots FC (2021). During the 2020 season, he helped lead Reno FC to an 11-2-3 record, earning them the Western Conference regular season title.
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Prior to Fresno State, Malenab spent three seasons with the Sacramento State women's soccer program, serving as an assistant coach before being elevated to associate head coach in 2025. In 2024, he helped lead the Hornets to their first Big Sky Conference championship and their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2009.
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Malenab has also spent time coaching at the international level, having served as the video coach for the Grenada Men's National Team during the CONCACAF Gold Cup Preliminaries in 2023 and as an assistant coach for Guam's men's and women's national teams.
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Valentine joins the staff after most recently serving as an assistant coach for the CSU Bakersfield women's soccer program for the past two seasons. Known for her extensive work with goalkeepers, Valentine helped CSU Bakersfield make their first Big West Championship appearance in program history in 2024, as the Roadrunners posted back-to-back shutouts en route to the championship match. Starting as a graduate assistant at Holy Names University, Valentine quickly ascended the coaching ranks and was named as an assistant coach of the Fresno Pacific women's soccer team in 2022 before taking over the reins in 2023.
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Phillips, a native of Bakersfield, played two seasons at Cal State Bakersfield before finishing her collegiate career at CSU Stanislaus, playing under Coach Bolton for two seasons. During her time at CSU Stanislaus, she appeared in 33 games, making 13 starts, and helped lead CSU Stanislaus to a combined 21-13-6 record in two years and two appearances in the CCAA Conference tournament.Â
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Bolton was hired as the head coach of the Bulldogs in December 2025, and has filled out his coaching staff while also gathering commitments to build the roster for the season ahead.
Â
Malenab began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Consumnes River College in 2004, followed by three-year stints at Stanislaus State (2009-11)Â and San Joaquin Delta College (2012-14) in the same capacity.
Â
Malenab climbed into the professional coaching ranks in 2014, spending eight seasons with multiple clubs in the United Soccer League, starting with Sacramento Republic FC (2014-2017). There, he helped lead the club to four playoff appearances, a 2014 USL Cup Championship, and a 2016 Western Conference regular season title. Following his tenure with Sacramento Republic FC, Malenab served as an assistant coach for Reno 1868 FC (2018-2020) and a first assistant coach for Oakland Roots FC (2021). During the 2020 season, he helped lead Reno FC to an 11-2-3 record, earning them the Western Conference regular season title.
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Prior to Fresno State, Malenab spent three seasons with the Sacramento State women's soccer program, serving as an assistant coach before being elevated to associate head coach in 2025. In 2024, he helped lead the Hornets to their first Big Sky Conference championship and their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2009.
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Malenab has also spent time coaching at the international level, having served as the video coach for the Grenada Men's National Team during the CONCACAF Gold Cup Preliminaries in 2023 and as an assistant coach for Guam's men's and women's national teams.
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Valentine joins the staff after most recently serving as an assistant coach for the CSU Bakersfield women's soccer program for the past two seasons. Known for her extensive work with goalkeepers, Valentine helped CSU Bakersfield make their first Big West Championship appearance in program history in 2024, as the Roadrunners posted back-to-back shutouts en route to the championship match. Starting as a graduate assistant at Holy Names University, Valentine quickly ascended the coaching ranks and was named as an assistant coach of the Fresno Pacific women's soccer team in 2022 before taking over the reins in 2023.
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Phillips, a native of Bakersfield, played two seasons at Cal State Bakersfield before finishing her collegiate career at CSU Stanislaus, playing under Coach Bolton for two seasons. During her time at CSU Stanislaus, she appeared in 33 games, making 13 starts, and helped lead CSU Stanislaus to a combined 21-13-6 record in two years and two appearances in the CCAA Conference tournament.Â
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