Assistant Coach Mike Richey Passes Away at Age 60

SERVICE UPDATES

Mike Richey's service will be held on Wednesday, November 18 at 1 pm at Green Acres Memorial Park and Mortuary. (11715 Cedar Avenue Bloomington, CA). In lieu of flowers a donation is suggested at Richey's family GoFund Me which can be found here. 

------

The Riverside City College athletics family and football community carries a heavy heart as we mourn the loss of longtime assistant football coach Mike Richey. He passed away earlier this week at the age of 60.  

Richey was a member of the football coaching staff for over 15 years.  He coached all facets of the game specializing in defense.  He primarily specialized in coaching linebackers and defensive backs. His expertise contributed to the Tigers hauling in a 2019 Undefeated National Championship - the program's first title in 30 years. 

"Mike was an outstanding assistant and very dedicated to the players, it's a huge loss for our program" said Head Coach Tom Craft. "He had coached with me for 10 years since I started at Riverside. He will be dearly missed, our thoughts are with his family." 

Richey began his coaching career at North High School in Riverside, CA. He was named the junior varsity head coach during his second season. He quickly moved on to coaching the varsity program's line backing core just two years later. 

"Mike was a great leader of young men and a good mentor," said Craft. "He had great character and he was well thought of by both players and coaches. I was very fortunate to have him on our staff."  

Richey coached some notable athletes at RCC including Zaire Anderson (Nebraska), Eddie Lacy (Baylor), Wil Smith (Texas Tech), AJ Hotchkins (Oregon), Jona Moi (Oregon), and Nick Underwood (Maryland).  

Not only was Richey a dedicated football coach, but also he focused on bettering the lives of young people on and off the gridiron. He worked full time as a director of several facilities that focus on the reform of juvenile foster kids. Several of whom would be transition back into society from prison or detention centers.

Leadership and mentorship is what Richey delivered repeatedly.  

"Humility, integrity and a social servant – that is what Mike Richey embodied," said Associate Head Coach James Kuk. "He was dedicated to standing up for what is right and teaching young people core values on responsibility and how to be a good person. He gave more of himself and never asked for anything in return."

Kuk recalls the moment they won the championship in 2019 and who he wanted to celebrate with.

"When we got it done, I found Mike Richey. I looked at him and said 'This is for you'. If anyone embodied RCC more and bled orange and black, it was Richey."

Richey was a son, father, husband and mentor to countless student-athletes over the course of his career.