Bryan Carmel ’96 and Paul Freedman ’96—Co-founders of the Oakland Ballers

Bryan and Paul’s friendship began at College Prep, where Paul joined the School as a sophomore. “We were friends from the beginning,” Bryan recalls. Along with their other Prep friends, they spent countless evenings at Oakland A’s games, enjoying the era of Dollar Wednesdays at the Oakland Coliseum. Fast forward 27 years from their graduation, and their shared love for baseball and their community has evolved into a transformative project—the Oakland Ballers.

 

Upon graduation from Prep, Bryan attended Columbia University before earning an MFA from the University of Southern California Film School. He went on to become an award-winning development and production executive and producer. Reflecting on his time at College Prep, Bryan fondly remembers influential English teachers like Nancy Steele and Harry Chotiner. As student council president in his senior year, Bryan forged a strong relationship with the then Dean of Students Andy Dean and was admired by both peers and faculty. His leadership was recognized with the prestigious Ruth M. Willis Award for service, character, and excellence.

 

Paul earned his BA in Public Policy from the University of Chicago, and his career has been guided by a commitment to social impact and community development. He established himself as a successful education entrepreneur, founding and operating several socially conscious nonprofit and for-profit businesses. Most recently, Paul served as President of Guild Education, a certified B Corp that partners with Fortune 500 companies to provide debt-free college degrees. 

 

Bryan and Paul’s collaboration building the Oakland Ballers began unexpectedly. When the A’s announced their departure from Oakland, Bryan was picketing with the Writers Guild of America in Hollywood, and Paul had recently left Guild Education. Paul texted Bryan, “Hey, I have a crazy idea… could we start a baseball team?”

 

By combining their skill sets—Paul an entrepreneur and Bryan a storyteller—and shared passion for community activism, they devised a plan for the Oakland Ballers. The B’s join the Pioneer League as its first-ever West Coast member. Paul emphasized their mission, stating, “I strongly believe that the real value of a sports team is in its relationship to the community it serves. Baseball is a sport with deep roots in this country and a rich legacy in the East Bay. With the Oakland B’s, we intend to build a team committed to honoring that legacy and our community. We are going to bring joy back to the game and give Oaklanders something to be proud of.”

 

With the Oakland Ballers, Bryan and Paul are not just creating a sports team; they are fostering a renewed sense of community and pride. Their journey from College Prep classmates to innovators in the baseball world is a testament to their enduring friendship and shared vision for Oakland’s future. The Ballers are poised to be a beacon of hope and unity, reflecting the values and spirit that Bryan and Paul have carried with them from their days at College Prep.