Soccer for Social Change: SBU’s 2022 Alumni Honoree Ronny Delgado

Ronny Delgado Zavala was raised in Manta, Ecuador, a port city on the Pacific coast. Growing up, he helped his mother run the family bodega to pay the bills. In 2016, not long after his town was hit by a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake, Ronny immigrated to the United States. He landed in the Bronx where he was able to reunite with his father. He started high school, but spoke little English. The next year, he joined South Bronx United where he benefited from the academic and college prep programming, found a support network, and could pursue his love of soccer. He starred as a defender on both the SBU Boys Under-19 and Men's soccer teams, while showing immense growth and determination in the classroom. His senior year, he received the SBU Academy Club Spirit Award for Commitment.

Ronny graduated from the Bronx High School of Medical Science in 2020 and now attends Mercy College. His participation with South Bronx United has continued while in college. He completed SBU's Coaching Corps fellowship during his senior year of high school to gain experience as a coach, mentor, and referee for young children in the organization's community and after-school programs. After completion of the fellowship, SBU hired Ronny as a part-time Up2Us Coach-Mentor through AmeriCorps where he has served as a coach and coordinator. Last year, he became head coach of the SBU Pre-Academy Boys Under-10 team. He is currently coaching the team for the second year and is SBU’s youngest head coach in the Pre-Academy or Academy programs. While minoring in sports management, he also hopes to pursue a career in his major, accounting. He spent this past summer in the PwC Start Internship at PricewaterhouseCoopers and also works as South Bronx United’s Office Coordinator. Ronny has a great future in front of him.