Football Staff Undergoes Changes

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2009) – The Occidental College football staff has made some changes since the season ended in November. Entering his sixth year in the coaching ranks at Occidental, Eric Bergstrom has been promoted to the Offensive Coordinator after serving for four seasons as the Wide Receivers Coach of the Tigers and one responsible for the Tight Ends.

During the time Bergstrom has been at Occidental, the football program has made four post season appearances and claimed four Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships.

Among the players he has coached were Football Gazette Third Team All-American Josh Jones and Ric Fukushima, the 2005 SCIAC's John Zinda Award winner. In all, Bergstrom has coached 10 All-SCIAC athletes at Occidental.

Prior to pulling on the black and orange he spent one year at SCIAC rival Whittier College coaching the outside linebackers in 2003 after his coaching career began in 2002 at St. Mary's High School in Stockton, Calif. where he worked with the offensive line, defensive line and tight ends. Bergstrom’s playing career began at Oak Ridge HS and extended to UC Davis where he played four years of, then, Division II football as a tight end.

Bergstrom will take over for longtime Offensive Coordinator Jim Fenwick who hung up his Oxy whistle in the spring for a Head Coaching job at Los Angeles Valley College.

“Eric had the opportunity to work closely with Coach Fenwick over the last four years, learning a great deal about our system while gaining a strong understanding of all facets of the Offensive Coordinator position,” said Head Tigers Football Coach Dale Widolff. “I am looking forward to working with Eric as he is well prepared to build on the success that our offensive team has had during past several years.”

With seven years of coaching experience under his belt, Bergstrom is embracing his new role. “I love being a part of this program and am glad to have the opportunity to continue coaching the Tigers in a new capacity.”

Taking over for Bergstrom will be 2007 graduate Rocky Ciasulli who enters his second season of coaching. Having played four years of football at Oxy, Ciasulli brings a strong understanding of the offensive system to the coaching staff.

“Rocky’s playing experience in our system will help him step right in and give us continuity in the coaching of the receivers as Coach Bergstrom moves over to offensive coordinator and QB coach,” shared Coach Widolff.

Also returning to the coaching scene following a stellar playing career at Occidental is 2004 graduate Johnnie Williams who will step in as the defensive line coach.

“Having coached at several colleges as well as with the LA Avengers, Johnnie brings a wealth of knowledge about defensive line play and overall defensive strategy,” said Widolff.

Joining the Tigers for his first season at Occidental will be Phil Kleckler. Coach Widolff is looking forward to the new ideas and outsider’s perspective that Phil brings to Eagle Rock as he has played and coached at other institutions at the NCAA Division III level. Kleckler will not only coach the outside linebackers, but he will serve as the program’s Recruiting Coordinator as well.

Also returning to the staff for another season are Erik Johnson (Defensive Coordinator), Bill Dobson (Offensive Line), Sae Woon Jo (Inside Linebackers), Andrew Chau (Cornerbacks), Matt Andersen (Running Backs) and Jim Kerman (Kickers and Punters) who will work under Widolff who enters his 27^th season.