Robert Valdez enters his first year as the Offensive Line coach at Grambling State University.
Valdez comes to Grambling State from St. James High School where he served as the head coach from 2016-2021.
A three-time New Orleans Saints Coach of the Week and a Coach of the Year finalist in 2012, Valdez earned the Don Shula NFL Coach of the Year after leading St. James to a 15-0 record and a Class 3A State Championship in 2015, which marked the first state title in 40 years.
Valdez has compiled a 126-58 overall record in head coaching stops at East St. John High School (2008-09), McKinley High School (2008-09), West St. John High School (2009-15), Scotlandville High School (20015-16) and St. James High School.
The most rewarding aspects of his career is the return of former student-athletes, and seeing their progress. Over the years, more than 50 student-athletes have earned athletic scholarships to some of the nations top colleges and universities. The list includes universities ranging from Washington State, Stanford and Yale, plus HBCUs like Grambling State, Prairie View A&M and Southern.
He was named the River Parishes Coach of the Year in 2011 and Coach of the Month (October) by the Thibodaux Regional Medical Center and the Daily Courrier. In addition, he is one of just three coaches selected from a national search to provide lessons on football administration in Mexico.
Valdez is the co-founder and Vice President of the Minority Coaches Network, an organization founded to provide resources for young minority coaches and collegiate opportunities for student-athletes. He is the former Vice President of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association, where he sat on the board.
Valdez began his football career at O. Perry Walker High School in New Orleans and was a four-year letterman winner at Southern. While at Southern, he was a member of the 1993 and 1995 Black College Football National Championship teams.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Southern in 1998 and obtained a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Nicholls State University in 2005.
Valdez his married to Leah Thomas Valdez and the couple have two children, Lorynn and Raina.
