Athletic Director Jim Wooldridge Announces Retirement
Jim Wooldridge, the Riverside City College athletic director whose five-year tenure has been accompanied by some of the most notable success in the school's history, has announced his retirement effective July 2020.
Wooldridge's retirement became public mid-February after submitting a written letter of retirement to President Gregory Anderson.
"It's been a great privilege to have worked with an athletic director who understands the core values of being a student-athlete," said Dr. Anderson. "The student athletes are scholars first and foremost and AD Wooldridge understands this. The amazing performances of our athletic teams are beyond compare, but that must be accompanied with success in the classroom. AD Wooldridge, an inspirational servant leader, embodies these values."
Wooldridge was hired as the Interim Athletic Director in 2015 following a stint as the athletic director at Division I UC Riverside. Previously, he served as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at UCR for six years.
Following his time at UCR, Wooldridge made the transition to become the director of athletics at RCC. He served as the interim AD for six months and was later granted the full-time position in 2015 following a national search.
Under the direction of Wooldridge, the Tigers have won four state championships, which include 2019 Football, 2019 Men's Track & Field, 2016 Women's Water Polo and 2016 Men's Cross Country. The 2019 football championship was the first title in 30 years, the first-ever California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) championship and the second national championship in school history. The team went undefeated on the season.
(Photo by Bobby R. Hester)
"My five years as the athletic director at RCC has meant more to me personally than anything before," said Wooldridge. "To see our student-athletes on the front lines achieving athletic and academic success has meant the world to me."
The department as a whole has landed in the top-10 in the National Alliance of the Two-Year College Athletic Association (NATYCAA) standings - a system that ranks the athletic department's composite success. Furthermore, the Tigers won the 2017 T. Mark Johnson Supremacy award measuring the best department in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC).
Wooldridge has not only focused on success on the field. He has invested in the academic future for all student athletes by executing and staffing the Athletic Learning Center (ALC), a department that is designed to support student-athlete academic success.
"The T.I.G.E.R.S. Program/Athletic Learning Center is the heartbeat to the athletic department. It carries the most importance to achieve greatness and reach success. It is supported by a great group of people and the coaches have truly connected to the program to enhance it on their end."
Since its inception in 2015, the ALC has assisted an average of 501 student-athletes per year. The student-athlete cumulative grade-point average has improved from 2.73 to 2.93 and a total of 684 degrees and certificates have been awarded to 471 student-athletes. Furthermore, 310 student-athletes have transferred to four-year universities. That number does not include the 2019-20 class of transfers.
"Winning championships is fun, but the fact that we built a program that will go on forever to help thousands of kids down the line is the most important thing I have done at RCC."
In order to support endeavors such as the ALC, Wooldridge has worked to enhance fundraising initiatives that include the annual Tiger Backer Golf Tournament, the RCC Hall of Fame and the Tiger Backer Membership Services. He has helmed three Hall of Fame Ceremonies that have inducted 21 former athletes, coaches, administrators, supporters, teams and much more.
"When I look back on my years in athletics, my time at RCC has meant the most to me. With the support of the college and the community, we were able to achieve greatness on and off the playing surface. I will always be a Tiger and it was a perfect way to cap my career."