Cherokee Valeria

Biography

Veteran collegiate assistant Cherokee Valeria was hired as Kent State’s defensive backs coach in 2025 following a standout run at Sacramento State, where he served as defensive passing game coordinator from 2019 to 2024. Valeria made an immediate impact during his first season at Sacramento State, helping the Hornets lead the Big Sky in defensive pass efficiency and red zone defense. The team more than doubled its interceptions from the previous year, jumping from five in 2018 to 11 in 2019. His unit featured standout Daron Bland, a first-team all-conference cornerback who went on to play in the NFL, and safety Caelan Barnes, a second-team honoree. In 2021, Valeria’s group produced three all-Big Sky selections, led by first-team nickelback Marte Mapu. Mapu broke out with 65 tackles, 10 PBUs, four interceptions, and four TFLs. He would later become Sacramento State’s first-ever Big Sky Defensive MVP in 2022 and the highest NFL draft pick in school history, going in the third round to the New England Patriots. That 2022 season also saw Caleb Nelson earn second-team all-league honors, highlighted by a 98-yard pick-six in his debut. In 2023, Valeria coached first-team all-Big Sky safety Cameron Broussard and honorable mention cornerback Dillon Juniel. Safety Murvin Kenion III led the DBs with 51 tackles the following year and started all 12 games, pacing a secondary that produced eight interceptions. Before Sacramento State, Valeria spent seven seasons at Eastern Washington (2012