The man who turned Cal (Pa.) softball into a national power is leaving the dugout.
Longtime coach Rick Bertagnolli is calling it a career after 30 years leading the Vulcans.
The veteran leader won 71.4% of his games, compiling a record of 972-389 and leading Cal to back-to-back NCAA Division II championships in 1997 and ‘98.
On his watch, the Vulcans made 21 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, including six regional titles and seven PSAC championships — five in a row from 1996-2000.
Cal athletic director Karen Hjerpe said Bertagnolli created a legacy. He became head coach in 1994.
“He built champions on the field while stressing academic success in the classroom,” Hjerpe said in a news release. “He was a true teacher of the game and developed the skills of the players in his program. His passion for the sport showed in the countless hours of dedication to his team.”
Consider: Bertagnolli coached over 30 All-American players and 16 Cal Hall of Famers.
Cal, which won 20 PSAC West Division crowns with him in charge, made it to four PSAC title games and won in 2014 and ‘15.
The Vulcans turned heads with an 88-game conference winning streak from 1994-99.
According to Cal, Nikki Yanchak will serve as interim head coach until a replacement is found for Bertagnolli.
Yanchak joined the program last year as an assistant.
