Derek Holmberg is entering his 10th season as the head rugby coach at De La Salle and has over 20 years of coaching experience.
The Spartans have become a national juggernaut during Holmberg’s time as head coach. In fact, the rugby program has finished no worse than #3 in the national rankings in each of the last five seasons.
The success includes an 89-10 career record (.899), three state championships, two northern California titles, a 4-0 record all-time against Southern California programs, and a #1 overall national ranking in 2022.
The Spartans have also made an impression outside of the states thanks to a 2024 victory against Canada’s Shawnigan Lakes in the program’s first international match and a fulfilling trip to Ireland this past March.
The 2025 Spartans fought through injuries to still finish 9-2 and as the Northern California runner-up while also sending five competitors to the next level. Jasper Buttles (UC Berkeley), Peter McKenna (Arizona), Lukas Platzbecker (Long Beach State), Sacha Cox (University of San Diego) and Holmberg’s son Tyler (USD) all signed national letters of intent.
Derek credits his coaching success to his father Steve and the other great coaches he has had and he enjoys watching young men leave De La Salle and make the world a better place. In addition to rugby, Holmberg has also coached high school football for ten years.
Holmberg, who played four years of rugby in the prestigious Saint Mary’s College program, graduated from SMC with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Economics and is serving as the Vice President of Sales for Bay Alarm Company.
Holmberg married his college sweetheart Angie and they have three sons, Andrew (‘22), Tyler (‘25), and Logan.
