CALCAGNO RALLIES FOR CHABOT SOFTBALL
Not surprisingly, Danny Calcagno stepped to the plate and saved the softball season for Chabot College.
The Glads' football legend is the new head coach of the softball team, and athletic director Jeff Drouin couldn't be happier.
"Danny didn't hesitate to answer the call when Chabot needed him, and because of that selfless commitment, our softball student-athletes will have a season," Drouin said. "On behalf of the entire department and our campus, I want to sincerely thank Danny for once again putting Chabot first."
After learning right before the Christmas break that the college was going to cancel its softball season, Calcagno, who guided the Gladiators to six conference football championships as a head coach and currently heads the California High (San Ramon) football team, knew just what to do.
He didn't want the seven or eight women interested in playing softball at Chabot to lose their chance. So he offered to head the program after speaking with Drouin and forming a game plan.
"(Drouin) asked, 'Do you think that you can rally four, five girls and get a staff together?' Calcagno recalled of the conversation, "and I said, well, I've been out of the softball world for five, six years, but I'll try. Lo and behold, I ended up getting a couple people helping me, and we got a couple of bounce-back girls from four years (programs) and a couple of girls came back, and we have 12 girls, so we're having a season."
The Glads are still a work in progress four games into 2026. They travel to Diablo Valley for a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 5. Chabot boasts pitcher/outfielders Kailey Yahya and Celeste Hurtubise. First baseman Delilah Vanderbeek had three RBI against Taft.
Clearly, Drouin thinks highly of Calcagno, inducted in the Sonoma State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2014 for his efforts in baseball and football.
"Danny Calcagno has always been the embodiment of what it means to serve Chabot College," Drouin said. "His willingness to step in and lead our softball program on short notice, simply to ensure our student-athletes have the opportunity to compete, is a powerful reflection of his character, loyalty, and love for this institution."
Calcagno — a full-time instructor in Chabot's Health, Kinesiology and Athletics department — played quarterback and baseball at San Leandro High and Chabot and pro ball in the San Francisco Giants' organization. He coached successfully at San Leandro High before a storied 17-year coaching run at Chabot, including 13 years as head coach and four as an assistant.
He knows balls and strikes, and touchdown drives too.
His Cal High football team was 8-4 last season. Calcagno has coached football at California going on seven years and has a four assistants from the Chabot coaching tree at the school.
Both of his athletic worlds appear in synch.
"I've had a really nice life the last six or seven years just going in two days a week and teaching our pilates class; fitness center; teaching some online classes, coaching at Cal High," he said.
Moreover, he coached his daughters Maddi and Ally on the Cal High JV softball team, and guided his sons Jake and Josh on the Cal High football team. Maddi went on to play softball at Chabot.
He's a family man, a true Gladiator, and a Cal High Grizzly. Life is good.