End of an Era: Fresno City College announces retirement of two coaching giants
FRESNO - Fresno City College (FCC) Athletics has announced the retirement of two of its most distinguished and winningest coaches: Head Football Coach Tony Caviglia and Head Men’s Soccer Coach Eric Solberg, who has also served as an Assistant Baseball Coach. Their departures mark the close of nearly four decades of combined dedication, championships and unprecedented success at the college.
Tony Caviglia: A Football Titan Retires with Record Wins
Tony Caviglia will conclude his 27th season as the Rams' head football coach, solidifying his legacy with the highest win total and winning percentage in the program’s storied history. Since arriving in 1999, Coach Caviglia has amassed a remarkable 195-80 record at FCC and never recorded a losing season during his 29-year community college head coaching career (217-90 combined record). His teams have reached the postseason in all but one season and maintained extraordinary dominance over Central Valley rivals with a 98-20 mark over 26 years. Coach Caviglia currently stands as the longest-serving head football coach at FCC and across the entire State of California.
Noteworthy alumni who advanced to the National Football League under his guidance include Maurice Morris, Cameron Worrell, Matt Giordano, Zach Diles, Tony Curtis, and David Veikune; Giordano and Worrell, both FCC products, squared off in Super Bowl XLI, underscoring the caliber of athletes Caviglia helps develop.
Caviglia’s accolades include being named the State Region II Coach of the Year in 2000, as well as Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors in eleven different seasons (2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2022), reflecting his consistent excellence and leadership. He believes football’s inherent difficulty demands exceptional commitment and strives to ensure players in the FCC program are prepared for success both on the gridiron and in life.
Eric Solberg: Legendary Dual-Sport Coach Stepping Away
The retirement of Eric Solberg, FCC’s multi-sport coaching veteran ends a nearly 40-year career that spanned two major programs, culminating in 46 conference titles and three state championships.
Baseball: The coach was hired in 1989 as an Assistant Baseball Coach, spending 37 seasons with the program, which included 26 conference titles and the 1992 State Championship. He was named the 2019 National Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).
Soccer: Hired as the Head Men's Soccer Coach and a full-time faculty member in 1999, Solberg led the program for 27 years, securing 20 conference titles, 10 Final Fours, and two State Championships (2017 and 2019). He earned National Coach of the Year honors in both 2016 and 2019 from the United Soccer Coaches of America.
Overall, his coaching career contributed to 46 Conference titles, 19 Final Four State Championship appearances, and 3 State Championships.
“The impact of Coach Caviglia and Coach Solberg on Fresno City College Athletics is immeasurable. Their decades of dedication have not only led to historic victories and championships but have also shaped the lives of countless student-athletes,” said Dr. Derrick Johnson, Associate Dean of Athletics. “While they will be missed, their legacies are permanently etched into the fabric of Ram Athletics.”
Fresno City College will begin the search for the next leaders of these storied programs immediately.
(Fresno City College)