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Husband and wife Kelly and Gianna O’Day have been hired as the head coaches of the new College of the Redwoods rodeo team, the local community college announced on Tuesday afternoon.

According to a press release announcing the news, the O’Days bring “experience, passion, and dedication to the newly established rodeo program.”

Kelly O’Day is a graduate of Ferndale High School and has deep roots in the local community and a long background in rodeo. 

A graduate of Ferndale High, he competed in collegiate rodeo during his time at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo along with Gianna, who grew up in Santa Rosa.

“The local rodeo community all agreed that Kelly and Gianna were the coaches we needed to secure here at CR,” CR Assistant Director Ryan Bisio said. “Kelly and Gianna’s longstanding connections to local and regional rodeo folks, along with their expertise in successful rodeo programs, will benefit us tremendously.”

The local community college announced the addition of a rodeo program along with Cal Poly Humboldt earlier this summer and the team is set to begin competition this school year.

“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,” CR President Dr. Keith Flamer said. “I am also excited about the opportunities this presents for working with Cal Poly Humboldt to strengthen our connections through our new rodeo programs.”

Known for his skills in steer wrestling, Kelly qualified for the National College Finals twice and he began competing professionally during his time at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, winning the Brawley Rodeo in 2016 and earning his professional rodeo card the same year.

Kelly teaches agriculture at Ferndale High School and serves as an assistant football coach while managing his own small business. 

“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,” he said.

Since graduating college, Gianna has been making her mark in professional rodeo.

Her accomplishments include the 2022 Resistol Rookie Champion, the 2022 Redmond Champion, and a fourth 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,” she said. “I have always enjoyed coaching young adults and look forward to the challenge of developing a rodeo program with my husband at CR.”