Tom Craft Announces Retirement After Historic 30-Year Coaching Career

After three decades of coaching success, legendary Riverside City College (RCC) football head coach Tom Craft has announced that he will retire following the 2024 season. Craft’s retirement brings an end to a remarkable career that has left an indelible mark on the sport, especially at the junior college level, where he led multiple programs to national prominence.

With a career record of 261 wins, 78 losses, and one tie, Craft holds the the best record of any two-year college football coach in their first 30 seasons at the helm of a program. His tenure at RCC began in 2010 when he became the program’s 18th head coach, quickly transforming the Tigers into one of the most successful teams in Southern California.

Craft’s tenure at RCC boasts an impressive 146-22 record, which includes two 3C2A State Championships, 12 conference titles, and 14 consecutive postseason appearances. His teams competed in 10 straight Southern California Football Association (SCFA) title games, underlining his remarkable consistency and leadership. In 2019, Craft surpassed the 100-win mark, becoming the first community college football coach in California history to achieve over 100 wins with two different programs. His 102nd win secured RCC’s first 3C2A State Championship and first National Championship in 30 years.

Over his illustrious 30-year career, Craft accumulated 21 conference championships—more than any community college coach—and 28 postseason victories. He also achieved remarkable success in the postseason, with 40 bowl and playoff appearances, 24 of which were consecutive. Craft helped lead three different programs to state titles: Palomar College (1991, 1993, 1998), Mt. San Antonio College (2009), and Riverside City College (2019, 2023). Additionally, Craft has earned numerous accolades, including being named the AFCA National Community College Coach of the Year twice, five-time 3C2A Coach of the Year, and 19-time Conference Coach of the Year.

"From the bottom to the top, it’s been an amazing journey," said Coach Craft. Learn more about his stats. 

Building a successful football program is about more than just recruiting top talent and executing plays. It’s about creating a team with strong chemistry and a winning culture—something that takes time, strategy, and constant adaptation. "Building your team, building the chemistry, and building the culture—that’s all part of the process," says Coach Tom Craft. "It’s a mental and physical skill that you develop through the structure, and you have to have a trained eye to capture the teachable moments. It’s all in there. But it takes time and effort to get it right."

That process isn’t without its challenges, especially in the current landscape of college football. The days of having athletes for two seasons are behind us, thanks to the rise of the transfer portal. "We used to get kids for at least two years, but now it’s much harder to retain players for a second season," Coach Craft explains. "The last five years, since COVID, it’s been unpredictable. It’s a different ballgame."

Despite these challenges, Coach Craft has consistently led Riverside’s program to success, and part of his success comes from his deep understanding of the game, honed over decades of coaching experience. He has been coaching at the collegiate level for more than 30 years and has spent time in both high school and junior college football, where he built a reputation for turning struggling programs into championship contenders. Throughout his career, Coach Craft had the privilege of learning from some of the best in the business—coaches like Ernie Zimpizi, who worked with Don Coryell, and Ted Tallner and Claude Gilbert, who shaped his early career. He also spent time with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. Yet, when asked about the most challenging level he's ever coached, he doesn’t hesitate.

"Junior college," Coach Craft says with a knowing smile. "It’s not USC. It’s not the NFL. It’s junior college. The level of chaos, the lack of resources, and the emotional ups and downs—it’s a completely different experience."

In many ways, coaching at this level requires more than just strategy—it demands an ability to teach, to develop players not only physically but mentally. "This is the most teaching and coaching-focused level because we have to take kids, develop them, and get them out," Coach Craft says. "It’s not about having players who are already ready to go; it’s about building them from the ground up."

Coach Craft's philosophy is rooted in the idea that adaptation is essential. As the game evolves, so must the coach. “I have a little old school in me, but I’ve also got a lot of new school in me,” he says. “And that’s been a big part of how I’ve evolved as a coach. You can’t just stick to one approach because the players change. You’ve got to adjust and adapt to what they need.”

He credits much of his own evolution to lessons he learned from Bill Walsh, the legendary head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. "He told me, ‘You’ve got to change your offense by 20% every year. Always keep evolving,’" recalls Coach Craft. "That stuck with me. Every year, I look for ways to improve—whether it’s on offense, defense, or even in the way we approach practice. It’s about continuous improvement."

For Coach Craft, it’s also about developing mental toughness in his players. Football is a collision sport, but it’s not just about physical strength. "Teaching toughness is critical," he says. "In football, it’s not just about physical toughness; it’s mental toughness too. How do you respond when you get knocked down? How do you handle adversity? Those are life skills that are just as important as anything on the field."

One of his core philosophies is to teach players how to press pause in difficult situations. "When things get heated, you’ve got to step in and give them time to cool off. Sometimes that means sending them home to clear their heads before they come back the next day," Coach Craft explains. "It’s not about punishment; it’s about giving them the space to reset and refocus."

Reflecting on his long career, Coach Craft admits there were times when he considered stepping away from the game. "Back in 2015, I was frustrated," he recalls. "We had a tough year, and I felt like maybe it was time to retire. But I knew there was still more I could accomplish, and that’s when I decided to create a coaching manual. It was a guide for my philosophy and expectations—a way to ensure consistency and maintain the high standards we set here."

That manual became a cornerstone of Riverside's football program. "The key to staying on top is consistency," he explains. "It’s not just about winning; it’s about creating an environment where everyone is pulling in the same direction, reinforcing the values that make us successful. We have the highest win percentage in the history of community college football at Riverside, and that consistency is a big reason why."

One of Coach Craft’s greatest joys in his career was being able to coach alongside his son. “It was a special experience to have him on the field, working with him and sharing those moments together. It made me proud to see him carry on the family tradition in coaching,” he shares with a smile.

Beyond personal fulfillment, Coach Craft takes great pride in helping his players advance their careers, whether they go on to play at the next level or build successful lives beyond football.

“One of the things I love most about coaching is seeing players take what we’ve taught them and apply it to their future. Whether they make it to the NFL or move into successful careers outside of football, knowing I played a role in that journey is incredibly rewarding,” he says. “We’ve had players come through here and move on to professional teams, and that’s always a testament to their hard work and our program’s commitment to excellence.”

Coach Craft’s leadership isn’t just about X’s and O’s—it’s about instilling a culture of excellence in his players and his coaching staff. "When you win all the time, people start to create narratives about your program, some of which aren’t true," he says. "We’ve had to educate people on what we do and how we do it. But it's all part of the process—keeping the focus on the players and the program, not getting distracted by outside opinions."

Even with all the success, Coach Craft remains committed to growing and evolving. "It’s not about just winning once in a while," he says. "It’s about setting a standard, sticking to it, and always striving for more. We’ve won championships, and we’ve built a winning culture. But the journey is never over."