Rudy Arguelles Named OEC’s John Altobelli Male Coach of the Year
Riverside City College's Head Baseball Coach Rudy Arguelles keeps adding to his trophy case after being named the 2022 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) John Altobelli Male Coach of the Year.
"For me and anyone who knows me, it is not an individually identified award. It was a collaborative effort and that is how it will always be as long as I am involved. I have a tremendous staff and personnel and it is their award too."
Arguelles and the 2022 baseball program had a banner year after being held off the field the previous season due to the pandemic and the College's decision to opt out of a 2021 spring season. He regrouped and retooled his squad which led to a 2022 CCCAA State Championship for the first time in 15 years.
"That was a monster obstacle not playing in 2021," said Arguelles. "That was one of the driving forces with staff and players. Throw whatever you want in front of us and we will overcome. That's what makes number five [championship] so special. Whether you have a ring on your finger or banners floating saying you are champions, it is within the heart and soul. These guys will be champions forever and will have that for the rest of their lives."
The award has been renamed to represent the late great John Altobelli. He was the former Head Coach of the Orange Coast College baseball team who tragically died in a helicopter crash that took live lives of his wife, Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant, among others.
"It is an absolutely honor to be attached to his name," said Arguelles. "I was fortunate enough to be around great minds not only from a baseball perspective, but a human being perspective. He is one-hundred percent one of them. I am blessed, appreciative and grateful."
Arguelles is a proven leader of student-athletes on and off the diamond. He is a staple in the community and continuously sets the standard of leadership and culture. He led 12 student-athletes in transferring to four-year universities and three players, two former and one current, to be selected in the 2022 MLB First-Year Players Draft. The most notable was sophomore third baseman Ignacio Alvarez who was selected in the fifth round by the Atlanta Braves. It is the second highest drafted player in RCC history.
It is the program's fifth state championship and first under the sole direction of Arguelles. At season's end, he was named the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Pacific Division Regional Coach of the Year and saw three of his players earned ABCA All-American status. He coached freshman right fielder Matthew Bardowell to earning the ABCA All-American Position Player of the Year and earning the OEC Player of the Year. Furthermore, he saw sophomore starting pitcher David Butler earn OEC Pitcher of the Year honors.
Arguelles led his team to a 38-12 record and a 15-6 conference clip. They earned the third seed in the southern regional tournament and defeated Grossmont, Cypress and Glendale to reach the state championship tournament. The Tigers went 3-0 at the state championship tournament with a 10-8 victory over Folsom Lake to clinch the title.
"I don't know if there is just one trait to be successful not only at this level, but all levels," explained Arguelles when asked what it takes to be a great coach. "Diligence, commitment, compassion, leadership, accountability, responsibility, organization. Appreciation of mankind and trying to develop productive and successfully human beings, not just in athletics."