RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside has appointed John Vaca as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Relations, Director of Athletics Greg Paules announced October 1, 2026.
In this role, Vaca will lead the Highlanders’ external-facing athletic operations and serve as sport supervisor for men’s basketball, men’s soccer and softball. He brings extensive experience in athletics administration, fundraising, corporate partnerships and marketing.
Since 2024, Vaca served at the University of Southern California as a philanthropy officer with the USC Arcadia Hospital Foundation, managing major gift cultivation, fundraising strategies and supervising development staff.
Previously, Vaca spent eight years at Cal State Fullerton, including three years as director of corporate partnerships for Titan Athletics, where he increased corporate partnership revenue by 175 percent in his first year and 200 percent in his second year. He also directed marketing, social media, digital content and multimedia-rights activation strategies.
He holds an MBA from Cal Poly Pomona earned in 2023 and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cal State Fullerton obtained in 2018. Vaca resides in the San Gabriel Valley with his wife, Dr. Gabriela Dupree-Vaca.
Greg Paules praised Vaca’s energy and commitment: “He has a passion for higher education, people, and sports. He runs at a fast pace and is known to make exciting things happen. I know he will have a significant impact at UC Riverside.”
Vaca expressed enthusiasm for his new position: “There is so much potential here, and I am grateful for the chance to be a part of it. I want to help build a standard of excellence that goes beyond what happens on the field — a culture of hard work, accountability, pride and doing things the right way every day.” He added, “I’m excited to get to know our student-athletes, coaches, alumni and the Riverside community, and earn the opportunity to help UCR reach its potential.”
CSB Take
John Vaca’s appointment reflects UC Riverside’s commitment to elevating its athletics through experienced leadership in external relations and sport supervision. His track record of significant revenue growth and comprehensive management at Cal State Fullerton and USC aligns with the Highlanders’ ambitions to strengthen community ties and program excellence. Vaca’s emphasis on culture and accountability could be instrumental in advancing UCR’s athletics profile and fostering sustained growth in the coming years.
Source: Original report
