The Fresno City College football program has had a long tradition of excellence from Stoney Johnson, the first head coach to Tony Caviglia the current head coach, according to Woody Wilks, sports information director from 1984 to 2009.  

Wilks said that from its first full season in 1947 until 1954, the football team was coached by two men — Johnson and Hans Wiedenhoefer — who won a total of 71 games and turned FCC into the team it is today. The football team played in its first bowl game in 1948, losing 20-0 to Visalia College (now COS) in the Olive Bowl.

But their biggest accomplishment was getting  players  from diverse racial backgrounds to play together in a time when it was unheard of. The team reflected the diversity of Fresno as a whole. Guys from local schools like Fresno High, Edison, Bullard and Memorial came together and started the tradition of winning. FCC was ahead of the curve in terms of race, said Wilks

Wiedenhoefer coached pros like Ledio Fanucchi and Bill Herron. Herron said at his Wall of Fame speech about Wiedenhoefer, “You’re a pearl; I want you to know that.”

FCC’s current all-time winningest coach Clare Slaughter took over and coached the school to 136 wins. He won FCC’s Bowl game in 1954 vs Bakersfield College in the Potato Bowl.

He coached FCC’s two state title teams in 1972 and 1973. Both teams went 11-1-1.

He also coached NFL Legend Tom Flores at FCC.

FCC’s current head coach Tony Caviglia has helped continue the tradition. He has won 130 games in his 17 years at FCC and coached future NFL players like Maurice Morris who set six national community college and state career rushing records prior to transferring to the University of Oregon; Cameron Worrell, Maurice Washington, Tony Curtis, Matt Giordano, Zach Diles, David Veikune and Brandon Sharpe.

Wilks said FCC has sustained success over the decades, yet it’s the coach’s ability to get their players to transfer and continue their education in four-year colleges that has made the program most proud.