RIVERSIDE — Continuity is important to Kevin Craft.
Tigers’ New head football coach Kevin Craft talks with his team at the end of practice at Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside City College wide-receiver Ross Nickson, right breaks free from a defender after the catch during practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tiger defenders stop a running back during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Tigers’ tightened makes a catch during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Tigers’ wide-receiver makes the catch over a defender during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tigers’ players hydrate during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Tigers’ wide-receiver looks back and smiles after beating a teammate for a long pass play during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tigers’ New head football coach Kevin Craft talks with the offense during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Tigers’ running back heads up field during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tigers’ New head football coach Kevin Craft during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside City College Tiger players rush and protect the quarter during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside City College players run sprints at the end of Tigers’ practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside City College wide-receiver Ross Nickson, left hits a defender after the catch during practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tigers’ offense gets a play to run against the defense during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Tigers’ defender keeps his eyes on the hips of a wide-receiver during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Tigers’ wide-receiver makes the catch behind a teammate for a long pass play during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A Tigers’ players smiles on the sideline during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tigers’ linebacker Micah Valenzuela gets a little help to get out of his pads after Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
In football prayers are always on the mind of players during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside City College football quarterbacks throw passes at the same time to different receivers during practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside City College wide-receiver Ross Nickson cools off from the high heat during practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tiger trainers help a player cool off after Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tigers’ left tackle, Trinidad Wilson rests on the field as he cools off after Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Tigers’ New head football coach Kevin Craft, front talks with his team as former head coach Tom Craft stands behind players during Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Tigers’ New head football coach Kevin Craft talks with his team at the end of practice at Riverside City College football practice at Wheelock Stadium in Riverside on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Riverside City College’s new head football coach, Craft was unsure of his place in the program through the summer but continued working with returning players and newcomers in the event he would be selected for the job.
“I am interested in continuing the legacy and building off the history of the school (and) I think the quality of players who are in our program speaks volumes, that they wanted to be a part of what we’re doing,” said Craft, who was officially hired in August to replace his father, Tom.
“I think the majority of those guys, the guys that were most important for us last year, we maintained most of them,” Kevin Craft said.
RCC, the three-time 3C2A champion, opens the season against Long Beach City College at Wheelock Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.
“It’s more about the culture that we’ve built,” Craft said. “It’s about the decorum we have as a team, and we run our program like it’s a Division I school so we’re always looking to improve.”
Strength and conditioning coach Pene Talamaivao was on campus all summer. So was wide receivers coach Geno Ramsey, offensive line coach David Hooper, linebackers coach Eduardo Pacheco, and defensive backs coach Aaron Cooper. New quarterbacks coach Tom Craft came back a few weeks ago.
“I give a lot of credit to (the coaches),” Kevin Craft said. “They wanted to be here (and) wanted to remain. There was no guarantees for those guys, just like there’s not guarantees for the players, for what this program was going to look like and who was going to be here.
“And that’s important because it’s their college experience, and I think (the players) have a right to know who they’re going to play for,” Kevin Craft said.
Last year, Riverside was among the nation’s top offenses but narrowly missed winning another Southern California Football Association championship and a trip to the California Community College Athletic Association state championship game.
A number of players transferred our during the summer because of the uncertainty at the head coaching position, Craft said, but those that stayed “have really embraced what we’re doing, and it’s not for everybody.”
“There was a lot of negative recruiting going on against us, and frankly some illegal recruiting with schools contacting our players trying to entice them to get out,” Craft said. “There was definitely a time when we were vulnerable and I think our coaching staff did a good job keeping guys engaged.”
This year, eyes will again be on the quarterback, the Tigers’ offense, and how the new coach handles the critical moments.
Sophomore Jared Doolittle (Western Christian High) and Christopher Cooper (Beaumont High) are competing with Noah Sandoval (Upland High) and bounce-back transfer Bryan Wilson (Campbell) for the starting job.
“We’ve really had four guys battling this thing out,” Craft said. “It’s kind of a difficult problem to have but also a really good problem to have because we’re confident in all four.”
Doolittle may have the edge after serving as the Tigers’ No. 2 quarterback last season. He totaled 12 completions for 76 yards in six appearances.
“He ended up getting freshman experience (and) playing time because he was the backup all season long,” Craft said.
Cooper, one of the Inland region’s top high school passers from 2021-23, ended last season as a medical redshirt after sustaining a back injury. Sandoval was not rostered but played on RCC’s scout team in 2024, and Wilson, who played at both Ayala and Roosevelt high schools, has attended four schools in the last three years.
“I always talk to our guys about your decision-making, your accuracy and your timing,” Craft said. “We put a premium on those things, and every quarterback at every level can live and die by those three qualities.”
RCC’s quarterbacks each of the last three seasons — Jake Retzlaff in 2022, Jordan Barton in 2023 and Brady Jones in 2024 — were selected SCFA offensive player of the year.
