Chris Moraga is in his third year as full-time assistant women’s soccer coach at Carnegie Mellon University. He previously served as an assistant coach for five years at Whittier College, during which time he was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) “30 Under 30” program.
The UAA “Conversations About Race and Racism” series seeks to lift the voices of people of color and recognize the challenges faced in both athletics and academics at the collegiate level. By sharing personal stories, we hope to elevate the conversation about race to raise awareness and bring about change.
Growing Up in Southern California
Moraga admits that he was very fortunate not to experience a lot of discrimination in his home state. “There may have been times I faced prejudice, but I may have simply been too naïve to realize it. Growing up in Southern California, I saw so much diversity,” he recounted. I have worked through my profession and gained respect, but I have faced roadblocks. I threw my name in the hat for one university where I was qualified and never even got a call. Those who did get a call were not diverse. I don’t want to think it was because I am Latino, but I thought I would get an opportunity.”
He has surrounded himself with a diverse community of knowledgeable soccer minds. “My biggest mentors have been ethnic minority, female, and LGBTQ people. I phone them all the time for advice,” he remarked. “Latinos makes up the lowest percentage of college head coaches. I work hard and put my head down and don’t gripe about it. I don’t want things given to me, but the numbers show there are few opportunities.”
Education and Hard Work
“There is a stereotype that Latinos are behind in education and higher learning, but the reality is not everyone has the same opportunities to get an education. I am a first-generation college student, a product of the typical Latino household where my parents worked hard to give me opportunities they did not have,” explained Moraga, who is both Spanish and Mexican with half of his great grandparents from Spain and the other half from Mexico City. “My parents worked 9-5 their whole lives so I could have those opportunities. Traditionally Latinos will do whatever work needs to be done in the fields and factories to support their families, even when it means being significantly underpaid. Once you work with me, you will see that though I am not Ivy League educated, I have that same work ethic and I know what I need to know.”
Although he points out that there are not a lot of Latino (or Black) people at Carnegie Mellon, he appreciates the diversity the school does have. “We are very fortunate at CMU to be diverse in regard to Asian students and those from Indian countries. There is so much love and support here,” he pointed out.
There is one question he is repeatedly asked that has nothing to do with his ethnicity. “People ask why I came here from California,” he laughed. “I feel very welcomed and loved here. I am more uncomfortable off campus. Pittsburgh still lags behind in its Latino population. People question me about my ethnicity, particularly when I am sporting a beard. People ask if I am Middle Eastern, as if that should matter.”
Important Conversations on Campus
“Even before everything blew up this spring with the much-publicized murders of Black people, we were already having conversations about how to become more diverse and attract more people of color,” he stated. “Being looked at as a resource is exciting to me. A lot of white people don’t know what to say or do so they are looking at me for information. It is nice to see these conversations taking place so we can work together to get better.”
For Moraga, silence is not an option. “Not having these conversations is what is the most harmful. We can’t just sweep things under the rug instead of addressing the issues. Fortunately, I have not dealt with a lot of racial comments, but it is something we can’t ignore,” he remarked. “When the protests started gaining momentum, our team met virtually. Our players are spread out across 12 different states so we got to share how each city and state responded. Many of our student-athletes weren’t sure how to respond so we were able to have those conversations about how to support people of color.”
“We are very fortunate to have (head softball coach and NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee) Monica (Harrison) on the staff. We are taking steps with our SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and others at the institution to help give student-athletes the tools and resources to have these conversations on race,” he commented. “We don’t pretend that we have all the answers, but we can facilitate the discussions. Monica’s energy and passion really drives us.”
Advice for Coaches of Color
Majoring in things he discovered he did not enjoy (sports management and business), Moraga dropped out of college his junior year and went into banking. “I ended up coaching a youth soccer team and fell in love with it,” recollected Moraga, who then played two years of junior college soccer and found coaching jobs where he could. “I randomly wrote an email to my local college, Whittier, and one of the best people on the planet, Monica Gerardo, gave me an opportunity as a volunteer assistant.”
Despite roadblocks that may arise, he recommends maintaining a strong work ethic. “Opportunities you want may not come through for a couple of reasons, but if you have drive and passion, and are willing to do whatever it takes, don’t let anyone or any limitations stand in your way,” he suggested. “Revel in whatever opportunity you get, from picking up cones to being the hype man for the team. I went from volunteer assistant to recruiting coordinator at Whittier. Just keep adding new things you can do. I will outwork anyone next to me or in front of me. As a Latino, the opportunities are few and far between, but you have to show them that you are the best candidate and that you will be the best at whatever opportunities you are given.”
Role of Allies
“Speak up! The people with influence have to be willing to put their name on something that promotes diversity. A true ally is willing to speak and say that this person needs this opportunity because they have earned it,” he described. “We need people speaking up for others who may not have had the chance they deserve.”
In addition to speaking up for others, Moraga believes it is critical to listen. “Take in the information about my life and how I feel. I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by good people who have taken me under their wing. I have felt that love,” he expressed.
Role of Teams and Teammates
Moraga has found it difficult to recruit student-athletes of color even though he and head coach Yon Struble are seeking a more diverse squad. “The cost to attend the school is a huge dealbreaker. If only it were easy to recruit people of color, every team would be much more diverse,” he articulated. “We appear to be an all-white team, even though we have multiple players who are of ethnic minority, including one with dual citizenship with Spain. When we posted support for Black Lives Matter on Instagram, we received comments about being all white. We are recruiting people who want to make the world a better place.”
“Teams are such powerful entities, not just one voice. It is a group of people who can really influence change and movement,” he continued. “The different personalities on a team make it so unique and offer so many different avenues from public speaking, organizing, and creating something visual to highlight what they are speaking out about. The teams at our institution are all in on trying to be better, a voice, a shoulder to lean on or an ear to listen. There are different ways to influence. We need teams to be willing to be part of a movement in whatever way works for them. It is important to athletics and to the institution as a whole that we be a loud voice for change.”
Role of Coaches
“It is important for the head coach to facilitate conversations, especially when it comes to something as powerful as race. You really can’t say ‘This is what you need to believe and do,’ but rather can bring the team together to talk about opinions and feelings,” Moraga suggested. “What do I as a coach need to do to give you the resources? Having that willingness to be uncomfortable, even for me as a person of color, means talking to student-athletes about these issues.”
Moraga realizes that the head coach will always take the brunt of any questions. “Why are these teams so white? The head coach needs to listen and be willing to be at the front of these important discussions,” he stated. “Whatever our team decides to do is coming from a good place. They want to be part of the movement forward. It may not always come out pretty, but we are willing to put in the hard work to bring about change.”