In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with Oakland native Cody Pillon, Executive Director of Oakland United and co-founder of Oakland Genesis. Cody shares how his journey took him from youth soccer in the East Bay to UC Santa Cruz, coaching and playing overseas, and eventually back home to Oakland, where he is working to remove the financial, transportation, academic and facility barriers that prevent many young people from accessing the game. The conversation explores Oakland Genesis’ soccer-based college and career pathway program, Oakland United’s plans to renovate and maintain public playing spaces, and Oakland’s selection as a U.S. Soccer Soccer Forward community. Through that initiative, U.S. Soccer invested just under $400,000 in Oakland to support field improvements, coaching education and expanded access to quality soccer programs. The episode also examines the challenges of the pay-to-play system and how investment connected to the World Cup can create a lasting legacy for Oakland’s young athletes. Guest Cody Pillon is the Executive Director of Oakland United and a co-founder of Oakland Genesis. Born and raised in Oakland, Cody grew up playing multiple sports before soccer became his primary focus. He competed in the Olympic Development Program, played collegiately at UC Santa Cruz and later pursued opportunities overseas. After returning to the Bay Area, Cody began coaching in the traditional pay-to-play system. That experience highlighted the unequal opportunities available to young players based on their families’ financial resources, transportation options and access to information. In 2019, Cody and former professional player Matt Fondy founded Oakland Genesis to provide Oakland students with free soccer, transportation, academic support, mentorship, and college and career guidance. Cody now leads Oakland United, an organization focused on identifying, renovating and stewarding public athletic spaces throughout Oakland. Episode Highlights [00:00:31] Introducing Cody Pillon Cody discusses growing up in Oakland, playing multiple sports and the coach who gave him an opportunity through the Olympic Development Program. [00:04:16] Why Soccer Brings People Together Cody explains how soccer’s simplicity and diversity distinguished it from the other sports he played growing up. [00:06:46] Choosing UC Santa Cruz Cody reflects on the college recruiting process, choosing a school where he felt wanted and learning to manage the responsibilities of being a student-athlete. [00:08:58] Pursuing the Professional Dream The conversation explores Cody’s decision to play overseas, the opportunities created by his Italian citizenship and the realities of pursuing soccer professionally. [00:11:48] When Playing Becomes a Job Cody discusses the difficult transition away from professional soccer and why playing at that level was not always as glamorous as it appeared from the outside. [00:14:48] The Beginning of Oakland Genesis While coaching in Marin, Cody saw how strongly a player’s opportunities could depend on money, transportation, equipment, nutrition and access to recruiting information. [00:17:53] Discovering the Need in Oakland At Oakland Genesis’ first school program, approximately 60 children attended—but almost none were playing organized club soccer despite wanting the opportunity. [00:20:13] More Than a Free Soccer Club Cody describes Oakland Genesis as a college and career pathway program that “masquerades as a free soccer club.” The program combines soccer with transportation, academic support, nutrition assistance, mentorship and college and career exposure. [00:21:03] The Cost of Providing Access It costs approximately $3,000 per year for Oakland Genesis to support each participant, with funding coming from grants, individual donors and corporate partners. [00:21:54] Growing the Program Oakland Genesis reached its initial goal of providing boys’ and girls’ teams from middle school through high school and has since expanded into elementary school programming. Limited field space remains one of its largest barriers. [00:23:07] Looking Beyond the National Team Cody argues that conversations about improving the U.S. national team often miss the larger issue: every child should have access to a quality local soccer experience, whether or not they become an elite player. [00:24:30] U.S. Soccer Invests in Oakland Oakland’s designation as a U.S. Soccer Soccer Forward community brought just under $400,000 in investment to support field rehabilitation, coaching education and licensing, greater access to quality youth programs, and long-term soccer development. Cody says the backing also gives Oakland United added credibility with future donors and corporate partners. [00:28:44] Why Oakland United Was Created A shortage of safe, affordable and high-quality fields led Cody and his partners to establish Oakland United. Its mission is to renovate and maintain athletic spaces for youth organizations throughout the city. [00:30:17] Making Public Fields Sustainable Cody discusses the challenge of raising millions to renovate a field while also creating a plan to maintain it for the next 20 to 25 years. [00:33:14] Active Parks Are Safer Parks The conversation examines how well-maintained and consistently programmed parks can become safer and more valuable community spaces. [00:34:16] Measuring Success Beyond Soccer Among Oakland Genesis’ graduating class of 23 seniors, five were accepted to UC Berkeley with full academic or financial-aid support. Every senior who has graduated from the program has continued into college, vocational education or another form of post-secondary development. [00:36:51] A Program Without Traditional Tryouts Oakland Genesis does not exist to identify only the strongest players. When space is available, students can join regardless of ability. The goal is participation, personal development and academic readiness. [00:40:24] Fields for the Entire Community Although soccer is driving the current momentum, Oakland United’s renovated spaces are intended for football, baseball, lacrosse and other sports as well. [00:41:04] A Model That Can Be Replicated Cody believes the Oakland Genesis model can be adapted in other cities and sports, particularly because of its commitment to academic support and career exposure. [00:44:02] Technology and Field Maintenance The group discusses hybrid natural-grass fields and how new technology could help maintain and line fields for multiple sports. [00:45:46] Creating a Lasting World Cup Legacy Cody reflects on the energy created by the World Cup and the opportunity to turn that excitement into long-term investment in Oakland’s young people and public spaces. Why This Conversation Matters The pay-to-play system does not only affect players trying to reach the professional level. It can prevent children who simply love soccer from joining a team, finding a coach or experiencing the community that sports can provide. Oakland Genesis demonstrates how soccer can become a vehicle for academic achievement, career exposure and personal development. Oakland United is addressing another major part of the challenge by creating the safe and sustainable public spaces these programs need to grow. U.S. Soccer’s investment of just under $400,000 provides an important foundation for that work. It also demonstrates how national soccer organizations can use the momentum surrounding major tournaments to invest directly in local communities and create opportunities that continue long after the final whistle. Together, Oakland Genesis, Oakland United and the Soccer Forward initiative offer a vision for a youth sports system in which opportunity is not determined by a family’s income, transportation or ZIP code. Memorable Quotes by Cody Pillon “Genesis is essentially a college and career pathway program that masquerades as a free soccer club.” “If your only focus is your national team and not the entire youth ecosystem, we’re just going to consistently have this problem.” “Instead of having fields that generate revenue, we have fields that generate holistic youth outcomes that can really turn a city around.” “The goal is not to develop the next Messi. It’s to make sure kids are graduating high school with academic eligibility.” Connect with Cody Oakland United: https://www.oaklandunited.org/ Oakland Genesis: https://www.oaklandgenesis.org/ Connect with Us Facebook & Instagram: ClaudineWongKTVU TikTok: ClaudineKTVU YouTube: ClaudineWong Instagram: @thealexlobban Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
