Tom Craft
Encyclopedia
Tom Craft Craft is presently the head football coach at Riverside Community College
in Riverside, CA
, and was previously the head football coach at San Diego State University (SDSU)
from 2001-2005 and at Palomar College
in San Marcos, CA
from 1983-2000. Craft was also previously the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, CA
.
Under his tenure, SDSU developed a reputation of playing the tough teams well. In 2004, SDSU lost to Michigan 24-21, and in 2005, where it pushed Ohio State at home, and lost 24-21 to Texas Christian University
. He left SDSU after the end of the 2005 season, and replaced by Chuck Long
.
Craft is a graduate of Pacific Grove High School
, in Pacific Grove, California
, and thereafter played quarterback at SDSU.
Craft is considered by many to be the greatest Junior College
football coach for building a quarterback dynasty at this level. As head coach at Palomar College, Craft's stint can only be referred to as an "era." After serving as an assistant coach at the school from 1977 to 1982 and with the school openly questioning its commitment to football, he took over head coaching duties in 1983. After a pair of 4-6 seasons, the Comets' fortunes began to improve. By the time Craft left the San Marcos school for the Aztec coordinator's job, Palomar was coming off a three-year stretch of 31-2, had an offense ranked among the nation's top five for five consecutive years and was sporting two national championships. Craft compiled an overall record of 115-56 and three national Junior College football championships at Palomar.
While at Palomar, Craft taught and coached 7 All-American Quarterbacks, which include: Duffy Daughtery, Scott Barrick, Brett Salisbury
, Andy Loveland, Tom Luginbill
, Greg Cicero, and Andy Goodenough. No other Junior College coach in history has produced so many All-Americans.
Riverside Community College
Riverside City College, or RCC, is a community college located in Riverside, California, United States. The college is part of the Riverside Community College District, as well as the larger California Community Colleges System.-History:...
in Riverside, CA
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, and was previously the head football coach at San Diego State University (SDSU)
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
from 2001-2005 and at Palomar College
Palomar College
Palomar College is a community college with one campus and six education sites in San Diego County, California. The main campus is located in San Marcos, while the six education sites are located elsewhere throughout north San Diego County. The largest of these is the education center located in...
in San Marcos, CA
San Marcos, California
San Marcos is a suburb of San Diego in the North County section of San Diego County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 83,781. Outside the San Diego region, it is best known as the home of California State University, San Marcos...
from 1983-2000. Craft was also previously the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, CA
Walnut, California
Walnut is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 29,172 at the 2010 census and its current mayor is Tom King, a former Detective from the Los Angeles Police Department....
.
Under his tenure, SDSU developed a reputation of playing the tough teams well. In 2004, SDSU lost to Michigan 24-21, and in 2005, where it pushed Ohio State at home, and lost 24-21 to Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
. He left SDSU after the end of the 2005 season, and replaced by Chuck Long
Chuck Long
Chuck Long is an American football coach. He played quarterback in college at Iowa for Hayden Fry and professionally with the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams. He is an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame. In the January 2008 issue of San Diego Magazine he was chosen as one of...
.
Craft is a graduate of Pacific Grove High School
Pacific Grove High School
Pacific Grove High School is a public high school located in Pacific Grove, California, between Carmel and Monterey.-History:The City of Pacific Grove formed the Pacific Grove Unified School District in 1895. On June 32, 1896 the City passed a bond issue to build the town's first high school...
, in Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census...
, and thereafter played quarterback at SDSU.
Craft is considered by many to be the greatest Junior College
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
football coach for building a quarterback dynasty at this level. As head coach at Palomar College, Craft's stint can only be referred to as an "era." After serving as an assistant coach at the school from 1977 to 1982 and with the school openly questioning its commitment to football, he took over head coaching duties in 1983. After a pair of 4-6 seasons, the Comets' fortunes began to improve. By the time Craft left the San Marcos school for the Aztec coordinator's job, Palomar was coming off a three-year stretch of 31-2, had an offense ranked among the nation's top five for five consecutive years and was sporting two national championships. Craft compiled an overall record of 115-56 and three national Junior College football championships at Palomar.
While at Palomar, Craft taught and coached 7 All-American Quarterbacks, which include: Duffy Daughtery, Scott Barrick, Brett Salisbury
Brett Salisbury
Brett Jon Salisbury is a former college football quarterback at University of Oregon, BYU, and Wayne State College.-Early life:...
, Andy Loveland, Tom Luginbill
Tom Luginbill
Tom Luginbill is a college football analyst for ESPN. Luginbill grew up in Tempe, Arizona and San Diego. He is the son of the professional and college coach Al Luginbill.-Playing career:...
, Greg Cicero, and Andy Goodenough. No other Junior College coach in history has produced so many All-Americans.
External links
- http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/craft_tom00.html