Bio

Kevin Craft returned to Riverside City College for his second coaching stint with the Tigers prior to the 2024 season and was named the 19th Head Football Coach in RCC program history on June 17, 2025. 

In his first year as head coach of the Tigers, he returned to the postseason once again and saw 11 players earn postseason honors, led by Bryan Wilson, who was named the Southern California Football Association National-Southern Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year. Seven Tigers were unanimous selections for SCFA postseason honors. 

Craft’s strong offensive prowess was on display all season as RCC averaged 578.7 yards per game and 48.4 points per game. Including a school record-breaking game in which the Tigers finished with 818 total offensive yards in a victory over San Diego Mesa. 

Craft began his coaching career in 2010 as the Tigers' Quarterback Coach, where RCC ranked in the top-five offenses in the nation with a 21-1 record (2010-11), and coached quarterback Dalton Livingston, who broke all the school records for yards and touchdowns while earning a Regional State Player of the Year award.

During the 2024 season as Quarterback Coach and Offensive Coordinator at RCC, coach Craft led the Tigers to the most prolific offense in program history. Quarterback Brady Jones broke all the passing records over a 10-game regular season, throwing over 40 touchdowns and compiling over 4,000 yards passing on his way to being named the conference Player of the Year and first-team All-American. He holds all the regular-season National Records, was the national passing champion, and was the total offensive leader. RCC led the nation in total offense and scoring, averaging well over 50 points per game and nearly 600 yards per game, all RCC records. 

Craft left RCC to pursue an international professional coaching/player career in Paris, France for Les Cougars of Saint Ouen au l’Amone. While serving as Offensive Coordinator, he also quarterbacked the Cougars and broke all the league single-game and season records.

After his stint in France, Craft moved to Tokyo, Japan, to work with the American Football X-League for IBM Big Blue, again serving dual roles as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback for six years, and broke all the league records for offense and passing in a season and a single game. He was then promoted to Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterback.

After a prolific playing career of nine years, Craft devoted his final three years in Japan to focus solely on his coaching roles. He led Big Blue to three spring Pearl Bowl championship games and three X-League championship games – the only championship appearances in the organization's history, making Big Blue one of only four teams to do so in the modern era. Recognized for his offensive dominance as a player and his innovative coaching strategies, Craft is credited with changing the dynamics of American football in Japan, which was established in 1934.

Craft graduated from Valley Center High School, where he was named the San Diego CIF Passing Champion and was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Fame. After high school, he started his collegiate playing career at San Diego State, where he played in nine games as a freshman. He then transferred to Mt. San Antonio College, where he led the Mounties to a state championship game. Craft broke all the Mt. SAC records for passing and was selected as an All-American, State Player of the Year, and National Player of the Year. He is set to be inducted into the 3C2A State Hall of Fame in 2025. 

Craft finished his collegiate career at UCLA, where he was a two-year starter for the Bruins and finished second in completions in school history at that time. He was awarded the N.N Sugarman Memorial Award for best leadership and the Jerry Long Heart Award. Kevin earned his Bachelor's Degree from UCLA and holds a Master's Degree from Azusa Pacific University.  

Craft and his wife, Pauline, have two children: William and Olivia. He is excited to rejoin the RCC Tiger coaching staff and is looking forward to contributing to the Tigers' success. 

Coach Craft by the Numbers