Bob Solderitch

01/01/00 3:00PM

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In his 12 seasons on campus, William and Mary Assistant Head Coach and offensive line mentor Bob Solderitch has made a positive impact on several generations of Tribe linemen, maintaining a legacy of success he helped create as an all-conference center for the College.

A 1986 graduate of W&M, Solderitch returned to Williamsburg in 1996 to take over the offensive line and eventually assumed the duties of assistant head coach in 2000. In what is a tribute to his unyielding dedication to the program, a private donor has provided the funding to have the staff room in the Laycock Football Center named in his honor.

Solderitch recruits the Tidewater and Atlanta areas for the Tribe, as well as North Carolina and transfer students.

In his first season as a full-time assistant, he groomed Tribe guard Josh Beyer to consensus first-team All-America honors. Fellow guard Dan Rossettini earned multiple all-conference honors under Solderitch, including first-team honors in 1997. In 1998, guard Greg Whirley, Jr. capped his career by earning first-team all-conference honors, while Matt Mazefsky earned multiple all-conference citations in his career and All-America recognition after the 2001 season. In 2002, first team all-conference tackle Dwight Beard also earned All-America honors under Solderitch’s tutelage.

In all, Solderitch has seen 14 players earn 18 all-conference awards on his watch, including 2006 team captain Cody Morris who graduated as a three-time all-conference performer, with second-team honors after his sophomore and senior seasons. Former team captain Pat Mulloy put a fitting punctuation on what was a standout four-year career by being named as a Second-Team All-Atlantic 10 pick in 2005.

After a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts, Solderitch returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant from 1986 to 1990. While earning his MBA at the College, his responsibilities included tight ends, long snappers and organizing the scout team. He also assisted with the offensive line and helped prepare Tribe All-America linemen Scott Perkins and Reggie White.

After receiving his master’s, Solderitch was named as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Newport News Apprentice School. He helped guide the team to a 17-9-1 overall record between the 1991 and 1993 seasons.

While earning his B.A. in economics as an undergraduate at the College, Solderitch was a three-year starter at offensive center and earned all-state and All-East Coast Athletic Conference honors his junior and senior seasons. In 1985, he was named team captain and won the Tribe’s outstanding lineman award. In 1990, he was named to William and Mary’s 100 Years All-Time squad.

Prior to his return to Williamsburg, Solderitch had a two-year stint at the Virginia Military Institute, where he coached both the offensive and defensive lines over two seasons (1994-95). His offensive lines paved the way for standout Keydet tailback Thomas Haskins, who would graduate as the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher in the College Championship Division.

Solderitch graduated from Whitehall High School in 1982, where he was an all-district lineman and member of two East Penn Conference championship teams (1980-81).

Solderitch and his wife, Karen, reside in the Williamsburg area.

Solderitch’s Collegiate Coaching Profile