Eric Fanene is entering his first year as the Defensive Coordinator for Mendocino College.  Coach Fanene brings 5 years of coaching and teaching experience at the junior college level to the Eagles' program. 
Prior to coming to Mendocino College, Coach Fanene most recently spent two years as linebackers coach at Santa Rosa Junior College.  In 2006-2009, Coach Fanene held the position of defensive coordinator for College of Marin where he helped guide the program to their first victories in over 5 years.  In his final year (2009) at COM, Coach Fanene held the title of Interim Head Coach before the program was discontinued.
Coach Fanene also has experience as a multiple subject teacher and behavior specialist from 2007-2011 at Timothy Murphy School for Boys in San Rafael, Ca. 
A product of the California junior college system, Coach Fanene began his collegiate playing career at Santa Rosa Junior College (2002-2004) after garnishing all-conference honors as linebacker and tight end at Burlingame HS in Burlingame, Ca.  He played the position of linebacker at Santa Rosa  where he helped the program to their best record (11-0) in school history and a conference championship during the 2003 season.  He earned a scholarship and transferred to Winona State University in Minnesota (2004-2006) where he started as linebacker on a team that won two NSIC Conference Championships and that earned a berth to the NCAA Division II playoffs.  During his time at WSU, the team held a national ranking as high as #3 in the country.                
Coach Fanene is currently completing his Masters Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration in Exercise and Sport Science at Concordia University Irvine.  In 2006 he received his B.A. in Mass Communications and B.S. minor in Physical Education from Winona State University.  He received his A.A. from Santa Rosa Junior College in 2004.
Coach Fanene lives in the San Francisco bay area with his wife of 2 years, Siu, and their son, Matiasi.