Bio

In 2022, James Kuk returns for his 13th season at Riverside City College (RCC). He starts his 10th season as the Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. He is also RCC’s Recruiting and Transfer Coordinator, continuing to make RCC one of the top transfer community colleges in the country.

Kuk led a 2019 National Champion defense that allowed a lowly 16.5 points-per-game which led the state. That defensive unit forced at least one turnover in 13-consecutive games including two interceptions and two fumbles in a 31-14 win over San Mateo.  

Prior to RCC, Coach Kuk served as the Head Football Coach at Pasadena City College, 2008-2010. After being hired as Pasadena’s Defensive Coordinator in 2008, he was asked to take over the Head Coaching position in week 3.  After an 0-3 start, the Lancers won 4 of the next 5 games earning a bowl game against Southwestern College in the Tremblay Bowl.  After winning the first Bowl game for Pasadena since 2001, Kuk lead the team to a 7-4 finish. 

Prior to Pasadena, Kuk served as a defensive backs coach at Citrus College in 2007.  Kuk also served as a secondary coach for two seasons (2005 and 2006) at Mt. San Antonio College.

Kuk’s football career began at Granada Hills high school where he was a first-team defensive back and honorable mention running back in the Los Angeles City Section.  From there, he went on to pursue a degree in Psychology and Sports Medicine at UC Irvine.  Kuk served as an athletic trainer for UCI Sports Medicine for four years and became certified with the National Athletic Trainer’s Association.  He later went on to further his education by earning a Master's Degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Management at California State University, Long Beach in 2003. 

Prior to beginning his coaching career at the community college level, Kuk’s coaching resume includes five seasons at the professional football level.  Between 2000-2003, Kuk was the Video Coordinator and Defensive Assistant with the Los Angeles Avengers in the Arena Football League.   

From 2003-2005, Kuk worked for the Kansas City Chiefs as a College Scouting Assistant in the Player Personnel Department, where he was intricately involved in college and pro personnel, the NFL Draft process, the NFL Combines, free agent workouts, OTA’s and all other aspects of player personnel operations.

Kuk currently resides in Chino Hills with his wife, Iona and three sons, Tobias, Justin, and Isaiah.