College of the Redwoods Welcomes New Rodeo Coaches Kelly and Gianna O’Day

Press release from College of the Redwoods:

Kelly and Gianna

College of the Redwoods has hired local rodeo riders Gianna and Kelly O’Day as the new head coaches for the Corsairs Rodeo team. This husband-and-wife team brings experience, passion, and dedication to the newly established rodeo program at CR.

Kelly O’Day, a graduate of Ferndale High School, has deep roots in the local community and a long background in rodeo. At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Kelly earned both a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a master’s degree in Agricultural Education while competing on the university’s rodeo team. Known for his skills in steer wrestling, Kelly qualified for the National College Finals twice and began competing professionally during his college years, winning the Brawley Rodeo in 2016 and earning his professional rodeo card the same year.

Currently, Kelly teaches agriculture at Ferndale High School and serves as an assistant football coach while managing his own small business. His commitment to education and the local community makes him an ideal leader for the CR rodeo program. He is excited to bring education and rodeo together, saying, “since I’ve started teaching, I have taken a step back from rodeo, and now that we have accepted this opportunity, I am looking forward to getting back involved in the sport that has defined me for many years.”

Gianna O’Day grew up in Santa Rosa, California, where she competed in junior high and high school rodeo before attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. There, she earned a bachelor’s degree in BioResource and Agricultural Engineering while competing in all four women’s rodeo events. Despite an early setback in her freshman year, when she lost her right thumb tying up a horse, Gianna continued to excel in the sport, demonstrating resilience and determination.

Since graduating, Gianna has been making her mark in professional rodeo, with accomplishments including the 2022 Resistol Rookie Champion, 2022 Redmond Champion, and a 4th place finish in the Average at the 2022 NFR Playoff Series Finale. Gianna has qualified for the California Circuit Finals for the past two years and is looking to bring her expertise to the CR rodeo program.

“I am excited to keep rodeo and the cowboy culture alive in Ferndale and the Humboldt County community,” Gianna said. “I have always enjoyed coaching young adults and look forward to the challenge of developing a rodeo program with my husband at CR.”

Athletic Director Bob Brown and Assistant Director Ryan Bisio expressed their excitement about Kelly and Gianna O’Day joining the CR coaching staff, with Bisio stating, “The local rodeo community all agreed that Kelly and Gianna were the coaches we needed to secure here at CR. Kelly and Gianna’s longstanding connections to local and regional rodeo folks, along with their expertise in successful rodeo programs, will benefit us tremendously.”

CR President Dr. Keith Flamer shared his enthusiasm, saying, “Bringing rodeo to CR has long been a goal of mine, and I believe the O’Days are the perfect team to help us achieve this vision. I am also excited about the opportunities this presents for working with Cal Poly Humboldt to strengthen our connections through our new rodeo programs.”

The establishment of the CR Rodeo program is a testament to the deep roots and long history of rodeo in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Trinity counties. With the annual and well-attended rodeos in Fortuna, Hoopa, and Orick as evidence, there has long been a demand for a local collegiate rodeo team. Like other intercollegiate sports, rodeo will provide pathways for student-athletes into CR and Cal Poly Humboldt, while competing in the sport they love.