Soka University

Erica Baldaray (Pryor) currently serves as the Assistant Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Leader, and Athletics Eligibility & Compliance Officer at Soka University of America. She earned her Master's in Coaching and Athletics Administration from Concordia University Irvine in November 2022, and was awarded the MCAA Alumni of Excellence award in 2024. Baldaray also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the the Concordia University Irvine MCAA/MSCE program. 

Most recently, Baldaray was asked to serve on the NAIA Drug Testing and Education Committee and the MOAA (Minority Opportunities Athletics Association) NAIA Leadership Board, and was named the NAIA Senior Woman Leader Association's Vice Chair-Elect at the 2024 NAIA National Convention.

Additionally, she has served on the BOSCA Southern California Conference Steering Committee where she also presented a roundtable discussion on "Equipping, Elevating, and Positioning the Senior Women Leader/ Senior Woman Administrator for Success" during its one-day summit in February 2025. In the same month, Baldaray also served as a panel-moderator for the MOAA-NAIA educational webinar on the NAIA RISE Committee and as a moderator for the NAIA National Convention session "Empowering Senior Woman Leaders, Knowing the Role" in April 2024.  

In the fall of 2023, Baldaray was selected to serve on the NAIA R.I.S.E. Committee. In July of 2023, she also presented for the NAIA SWL Lunch and Learn Series, where she discussed "Optimizing the SWL Designation with your Conference; The Progress and Future of the Cal Pac Conference's Senior Woman Leader Council."  Baldaray also sits on the NAIA Athletics Compliance Administrator Association's Leadership Board.

In March of 2023, Baldaray represented the California Pacific Conference at the NAIA R.I.S.E. Governance and Leadership Academy. In February 2023, she was the Keynote Speaker for the CIF Southern Section FCADA National Girls and Women in Sports Day "Girls Got Game" summit and was also featured in Concordia University's MCAA "Celebrating 5000" Alumni Spotlight. In addition, Baldaray joined as a mentor for the Anaheim Ducks Inaugural "Women in Sports Night" event in January 2023.  

Baldaray was appointed the first-ever California Pacific Conference Senior Woman Leader Council Chair in April 2022. She also serves as one of two liaisons for Soka Athletics' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) and has presented multiple sessions for California Pacific Conference Student-Athlete Council (S.A.C.) members during their annual leadership summits. In March 2022, Baldaray sat as a panelist for Soka University's Women's History and Empowerment Month panel discussion. Baldaray was also featured as one of the first four women in Soka University's Women of Soka campaign, highlighting women across Soka's campus. In May of 2021, Baldaray sat as a panelist for the Women Leaders in College Sports Athletics Communications Circle Call, and in October 2021, Baldaray joined the California Pacific Conference's Women Inspire Network's (W.I.N.) leadership team. Additionally, Baldaray was highlighted as an (A)dministrators. (C)oaches. (E)merging Ace in Athletics. for its #AceChallenge in May of 2020, and was also featured in the NAIA-SIDA Spotlight series in April 2020.

Before Baldaray's promotion to Assistant Director of Athletics in November 2017, she served as the Sports Information Coordinator and Eligibility and Compliance Officer beginning in November 2012. She was also the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Soka University Women's Soccer team from 2008-2012, where she helped build the Lions' women's soccer program for its inaugural NAIA season in 2009.

From 2008-2013 Baldaray worked camps at the Fullerton Futbol Academy, United Futbol Academy, UHS Soccer Academy, Mr. Soccer camps, UCSB ID camps, St. Mary's I.D. camps, and the USC Futbol Academy. In 2011 Baldaray also took on a coaching position with the Cal South Olympic Development Program, where she worked with the Young Olympian team under the tutelage of Stephen Hoffman. She currently holds her National "D" coaching license.

Along with coaching at Soka University and providing personal training lessons to soccer players of all ages, Baldaray has coached at the youth, high school, and NCAA and NAIA collegiate levels. She began coaching while in attendance at Cal State University, Fullerton. In 2002 she started providing local youth with individual and group training sessions. In 2004 she was brought on as an assistant varsity coach at El Modena High School. In 2006 Baldaray joined the coaching staff at Cal State University, Fullerton as an undergraduate assistant for Demian Brown and Scott Alexander. She also joined the coaching staff for the Fullerton Rangers Youth Soccer Club (2007) and the Diamond Bar Walnut Valley United Soccer Club (2008). With these clubs, Baldaray coached the Girls U-9, Girls U-10 team, and Girls U-19 and assisted with the Girls U-11 and Girls U-15 teams. In 2008 she returned to her alma mater, Upland High School, becoming an assistant varsity coach under Bo Whieldon and Mike Diaz.

Upon fulfilling her requirements to graduate in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University, Fullerton, Baldaray interned for the Titan Athletics Department under their Director of Development, Pamela Jones-Tintle. She assisted in securing private donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations for seventeen sports at the NCAA Division I level.

During Baldaray's collegiate playing career at Cal State Fullerton, she earned a starting position as a midfielder in her first year. She maintained her role as a defensive midfielder throughout her career (2002-2005). Baldaray was a two-time All-Big West Conference Team honoree (2003 Honorable Mention and 2005 Second Team All-Conference). She also earned Big West Academic All-Conference honors (2003), CHAD Student-Athlete Honoree recognition and was named to the Santa Clara University adidas Classic All-Tournament Team (2005). In her career, she played in 77 matches, scored nine goals, and assisted in four, for a total of 22 points. Her collegiate career was highlighted by playing a significant role in helping the Titans advance to the round of sixteen in the NCAA Division I tournament during her senior season in 2005. The 2005 squad remains the most successful women's soccer team in Titan history, ranked as high as #5 regionally by Soccer Buzz and #12 nationally by NSCAA (now known as United Soccer Coaches) with an overall record of 19-4-0. During her career with the Titans, she also played against several international teams in exhibition matches, including the Mexican National Team and New Zealand National Team. During Fullerton's European Tour, she competed against several top German clubs, including the FC Bayern München women's first team. While at CSUF, Baldaray was also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) from 2003-2005, serving as S.A.A.C. Treasurer (2004) and President (2005). Additionally, she was a member of the inaugural Titan Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee, a student-athlete representative on the 2005-2006 WASC Steering Committee, and the student-athlete representative on the Titan Athletics Club Council from 2005-2006.

Baldaray maintains membership in Women Leaders in Sports, WeCoach, NACDA, N4A and MOAA. She has also earned her Inclusive Leader Certificate from Return on Inclusion in November 2020 and completed her Mental Health First Aid Certification from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing through Savor Lining on August 1, 2023.

Erica and her husband, Johnny, reside in Irvine, CA.