Napa Valley College

Oyama is a resident of Corte Madera in Marin County and graduated in 1993 from Terra Linda High School in San Rafael.

She got her AA from the College of Marin in Kentfield in 1998 and received her degree in liberal studies in 1999 from Sonoma State.

She earned her master’s from Chico State in 2004 in physical education with an emphasis in athletic training.

Oyama worked in the athletic training department at Chico State, an NCAA-Division II school and a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

She is in her first year at NVC.

“I love sports. I was born and raised on the (San Francisco) 49ers, (San Francisco) Giants and (Golden State) Warriors. And then I’ve always liked helping people,” said Oyama, 44. “It was just natural if I could combine the two. In this capacity, I was able to stay in the sports area. Sports was always a staple. So I just kind of gravitated toward that. It’s been a great career choice.”

Oyama has also worked in athletic training at Dominican University of California – an NCAA-Division II school in San Rafael which is a member of the Pacific West Conference – since 2013.

It’s a very busy time at NVC, with the school year just starting and four sports going on at the same time. Oyama welcomes the workload.

“You’re not surrounded by the same four walls every single day. Sometimes you’re inside and sometimes you’re outside. Nothing is the same and you know that it’s not going to be the same thing over and over again.”

Oyama enjoys working with each of the teams, the coaches and athletes, and everyone in the athletic department.

NVC also has classes for its respective teams during the summer months.

“I love it. Everyone is so supportive,” said Oyama.

Oyama is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. She has been involved with Special Olympics, providing support for gymnastics programs, and has also worked with Path2Pro Soccer Pro Player Combines.

* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association, Associated Press Sports Editors, and California Prep Sports Media Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016.