Ricci Retires as Irvine Football Coach
Tom Ricci steps down after eight seasons leading the Vaqueros, ending a coaching career spanning more than 35 years.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Football
Tom Ricci retired as Irvine football coach after eight seasons, confirming the decision on Monday. Irvine lost at Fillmore 20-19 in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 8 playoffs.
Why it matters
Ricci's departure closes a tenure that included three league championships and five postseason appearances for the Vaqueros. The year-round demands of high school football and the lack of on-campus assistant coaches were cited as factors in his decision.
Ricci's overall record at Irvine was 50-35 across eight seasons, with five postseason appearances and league titles in 2020, 2021 and 2023. The 2020 league title was the school's first since 2003.
The players
Tom Ricci
Tom Ricci is a longtime high school football coach who led Irvine to five postseason appearances and three league titles over eight seasons.
Terry Henigan
Terry Henigan was a legendary Irvine coach whose program Ricci played and coached under before succeeding him.
The details
Ricci confirmed his retirement on Monday after a coaching career of more than 35 years, which included time at Savanna, where he led teams to playoff appearances in 2017 and 2018. He played and coached under longtime Vaqueros coach Terry Henigan before taking over the program himself.
Timeline
2003: Irvine won its previous league championship before the 2020 title.
2017 and 2018: Ricci led Savanna to playoff appearances.
2020, 2021 and 2023: Irvine won league championships under Ricci.
2021: Irvine went 10-0 in the regular season, its best season under Ricci.
Last week: Irvine lost at Fillmore 20-19 in the Division 8 first round.
Season Trajectory
Ricci's departure comes after Irvine's rise from a 2003 league title drought to three league championships in four years, a stretch that followed the program's legacy under Terry Henigan. The team's first-round playoff loss at Fillmore ends a run of four consecutive postseason appearances.
Irvine's coaching change affects the program's playoff planning and roster development heading into next season. Players and families will need to track the new staff's approach as the Vaqueros rebuild after a first-round exit.
The takeaway
Ricci's exit underscores how demanding year-round high school football has become for coaches balancing teaching duties with program responsibilities. Irvine's next coach will inherit a program with recent league success and a strong base of playoff experience.
Further reading
For more on the program's recent history, see Irvine Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Orange County Register.
