Four RCC Coaches Named to Riverside Hall of Fame's Wall of Distinction
Riverside City College athletics has been held in high prestige in its 100 plus years of existence. While being located in a community that breathes collegiate athletics, it is a strong nucleus of coaches that has cemented RCC's high esteem throughout the state and nation. The Tigers continued to trend upward with the most recent revealing of the 2020 Riverside Sports Hall of Fame Wall of Distinction honorees.
Head Coaches Tom Craft, Nikki Bonzoumet, Michelle Dadonna and Doug Finfrock have been selected as the latest editions to the Riverside Sports Wall of Distinction. The late Bob Shermerhorn, a former RCC basketball coach and Athletic Director, will be honored as well.
Craft, who was recently named the 2019 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coach of the Year, continues to stock pile his accolades with his most recent honor. He helmed the Tigers to their first California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State and National Championship in 30 years after defeating College of San Mateo, 31-14, in mid-December. Prior to hoisting the trophy, Craft earned his 100th win as RCC's Head Coach and continued on to win his first CCCAA Southern Regional Championship. His 100th win marks the second time he has accomplished this feat and acts as the only community college coach to do so at two different two-year colleges. He won a total of 115 games at Palomar College. In addition, he was named the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) National Division Coach of the Year and has coached four Players of the Year in the past three seasons.
Bonzoumet enters into her 20th season at the helm of the women's tennis program with an overall record of 241-103-1 which encompasses a 131-68 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) clip. She has led the Tigers to three conference championships coming in 2000, 2012 and 2015. Of those 19 seasons in the driver's seat, she has paved the way to 14 winning seasons with 12 seasons earning 10 or more victories. She is coming off one of her strongest seasons thus far after finishing with a 17-3 overall record and an 8-2 mark in conference. She has coached three players to conference titles (Anabel Sanchez, Caroline Houston and Alicia Brown). In 2019, Bonzoumet qualified all doubles teams to the Ojai Tournament and saw five singles players qualify as well.
Daddona, a staple in the RCC softball world, will enter her 21st season as the Head Coach. She holds a career record of 537-360-3 (.599) and acts as the winningest softball coach in RCC history. Daddona earned her first OEC title in 2011 and continued on to earn a second place finish at the state championships in 2012 and a third place finish at the state championships in 2013. Under the direction of Daddona, the Tigers have qualified for the CCCAA Southern California Regional playoffs 13 times and they have not finished lower than fourth place in conference in 15 of her 20 seasons.
Finfrock, who took over the program in 2013 after being an assistant coach since 2003, will enter into his eighth season at the helm of the women's water polo and swimming & diving program. Finfrock receives his second honor on the Wall of Distinction after being placed on the wall as a student-athlete in 2005. Finfrock currently holds an overall record of 183-38 which includes an overall conference mark of 36-3. He reached the ultimate height in 2016 as he led his squad to a 2016 CCCAA State Championship. He has tallied four state runner up honors and one Southern Regional semifinal berth. He was named the 2013 CCCAA Coach of the Year and the 2015 CCCAA Southern Regional Coach of the Year. In addition, he was named the 2015 & 2016 OEC Coach of the Year. In the mix of his team success, he has coached five OEC Most Valuable Players and has seen 25 of his players receive All-American honors.