Tom Craft
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1953)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Tom Craft
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|11|12|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1972–1973
| player_team1 = Monterey Peninsula
| player_years2 = 1975–1976
| player_team2 = San Diego State
| player_positions = Quarterback
| coach_years1 = 1977–1982
| coach_team1 = Palomar (QB/WR)
| coach_years2 = 1983–1993
| coach_team2 = Palomar
| coach_years3 = 1994–1996
| coach_team3 = San Diego State (OC/QB)
| coach_years4 = 1997–2001
| coach_team4 = Palomar
| coach_years5 = 2002–2005
| coach_team5 = San Diego State
| coach_years6 = 2007–2009
| coach_team6 = Mt. San Antonio (assoc. HC/OC/QB)
| coach_years7 = 2010–2024
| coach_team7 = Riverside City Tigers
| overall_record = 19–29 (college)
261–79–1 (junior college)
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships = 2 junior college (1991, 1993)
2 CCCAA / 3C2A (2019, 2023)
5 Mission Conference South Division (1989–1993)
4 Mission Conference Central Division (1998–2001)
2 Central East (2010–2011)
7 National Central (2013–2017, 2021–2022)
4 National Southern (2018–2019, 2023–2024)
| awards =
| coaching_records =
}}
Thomas Jay Craft (born November 12, 1953) is an American football coach and former quarterback, who served as the head coach of the Riverside City Tigers from August 2010 until his retirement in December 2024.{{Cite web |last=Pacheco |first=Eric |title=The master and his craft: Tom Craft |url=https://viewpointsonline.org/2025/02/the-master-and-his-craft-tom-craft/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Viewpoints}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-10 |title=Riverside City College football coach Tom Craft announces retirement |url=https://www.pressenterprise.com/2024/12/10/riverside-city-college-football-coach-tom-craft-announces-retirement/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Press Enterprise |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Football Head Coach |url=https://rccathletics.com/sports/fball/coaches/Craft-_Tom |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Riverside City College Athletics |language=en}} He played college football at Monterey Peninsula and San Diego State. He then served as the head football coach Palomar from 1983 to 1993 and at San Diego State from 2002 to 2005.
Craft is the father of former UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft.
Career
Craft graduated from Pacific Grove High School, in Pacific Grove, California, and thereafter played quarterback at San Diego State University.
After serving as an assistant coach at Palomar College 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 in 1994, 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 returned to Palomar in 1997 and was the head coach from 1997-2001. At Palomar, Craft coached seven All-American quarterbacks: Duffy Daughtery, Scott Barrick, Brett Salisbury, Andy Loveland, Tom Luginbill, Greg Cicero, and Andy Goodenough. He compiled an overall record of 115–56 and three national junior college football championships at Palomar.
Craft served as the head football coach at San Diego State University from 2002 to 2005. Under his tenure, San Diego State developed a reputation of playing the tough teams well but lacked consistency and never had a winning season. In 2004, San Diego State lost to #17 Michigan 24–21 and in 2005, lost 24–21 to #20 TCU. San Diego State fired Craft at the end of the 2005 season.{{cite news | first=Mick | last=McGrane | title=SDSU fires Craft: Athletic director says program needs more energy, confidence| newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune | date=December 6, 2005 | accessdate=November 13, 2012 | url=http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051206/news_1s6azfoot.html}}
Craft was the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California from 2007-2009. He served as the head football coach at Riverside City College in Riverside, California, from August 2010 until his retirement in December 2024.
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = San Diego State Aztecs
| conf = Mountain West Conference
| startyear = 2002
| endyear = 2005
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2002
| name = San Diego State
| overall = 4–9
| conference = 4–3
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2003
| name = San Diego State
| overall = 6–6
| conference = 3–4
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2004
| name = San Diego State
| overall = 4–7
| conference = 2–5
| confstanding = 7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2005
| name = San Diego State
| overall = 5–7
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = San Diego State
| overall = 19–29
| confrecord = 13–16
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 19–29
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
=Junior college football=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Palomar Comets
| conf = Mission Conference
| startyear = 1983
| endyear = 1993
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1983
| name = Palomar
| overall = 4–6
| conference = 1–5
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1984
| name = Palomar
| overall = 4–6
| conference = 2–6
| confstanding = T–7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1985
| name = Palomar
| overall = 6–4
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1986
| name = Palomar
| overall = 5–5
| conference = 4–5
| confstanding = 7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1987
| name = Palomar
| overall = 4–4–1
| conference = 3–5–1
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1988
| name = Palomar
| overall = 4–6
| conference = 3–6 / 3–1
| confstanding = 2nd (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 1989
| name = Palomar
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 6–3
| confstanding = 1st (South)
| bowlname = Hall of Fame Bowl
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 1990
| name = Palomar
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 4–0
| confstanding = 1st (South)
| bowlname = Hall of Fame Bowl
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 1991
| name = Palomar
| overall = 10–1
| conference = 8–0
| confstanding = 1st (South)
| bowlname = Merced Elks Bowl
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 1992
| name = Palomar
| overall = 10–1
| conference = 8–1 / 3–0
| confstanding = 1st (South)
| bowlname = Orange Country Classic
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 1993
| name = Palomar
| overall = 11–0
| conference = 9–0 / 3–0
| confstanding = 1st (South)
| bowlname = San Francisco Community College Bowl
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Palomar Comets
| conf = Mission Conference
| startyear = 1997
| endyear = 2001
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1997
| name = Palomar
| overall = 6–5
| conference = 5–5 / 3–3
| confstanding = T–3rd (Central)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 1998
| name = Palomar
| overall = 10–1
| conference = 9–1 / 5–0
| confstanding = 1st (Central)
| bowlname = First Down Bowl
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 1999
| name = Palomar
| overall = 8–3
| conference = 8–2 / 4–1
| confstanding = T–1st (Central)
| bowlname = Shrine Potato Bowl
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 2000
| name = Palomar
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 7–3 / 4–1
| confstanding = T–1st (Central)
| bowlname = Southern California Bowl
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 2001
| name = Palomar
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 7–1 / 5–0
| confstanding = 1st (Central)
| bowlname = Southern California Bowl, L CCCAA Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Palomar
| overall = 113–56–1
| confrecord = 88–47–1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Riverside City Tigers
| conf = Central East Conference
| startyear = 2010
| endyear = 2011
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2010
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 10–1
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = Central Division Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2011
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 11–0
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Riverside City Tigers
| conf = National Central Conference / League
| startyear = 2012
| endyear = 2017
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2012
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 9–2
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname = Golden State
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2013
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = SCFA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2014
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = SCFA Championship / CCCAA Semifinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2015
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 8–3
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname = CCCAA Southern California Playoffs
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2016
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 4–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname = SCFA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2017
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 4–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname = SCFA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Riverside City Tigers
| conf = National Southern League
| startyear = 2018
| endyear = 2021
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2018
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = CCCAA/SCFA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 2019
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 13–0
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = CCCAA Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2020–21
| name = No team—COVID-19
| overall =
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Riverside City Tigers
| conf = National Central League
| startyear = 2021
| endyear = 2022
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2021
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 10–3
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = CCCAA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2022
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 12–1
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = CCCAA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Riverside City Tigers
| conf = National Southern League
| startyear = 2023
| endyear =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 2023
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 12–1
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname = 3C2A Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2024
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 7–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = SCFA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Riverside City
| overall = 145–23
| confrecord = 73–5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 261–79–1
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://rccathletics.com/sports/fball/coaches/Craft-_Tom Riverside City profile]
{{San Diego State Aztecs quarterback navbox}}
{{San Diego State Aztecs football coach navbox}}
{{Riverside Tigers football coach navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Craft, Tom}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Monterey Peninsula Lobos football players
Category:Mt. SAC Mounties football coaches
Category:Palomar Comets football coaches
Category:Riverside City Tigers football coaches
Category:San Diego State Aztecs football coaches
Category:San Diego State Aztecs football players
Category:People from Pacific Grove, California
Category:Players of American football from Iowa City, Iowa
Category:Players of American football from Monterey County, California