Rudy Arguelles
Rudy Arguelles

Bio

Rudy Arguelles was named the Riverside City College Head Baseball Coach in 2016 and boasts a 195-91 overall record heading into the 2024 season. 

During the 2022 season, Arguelles led the Tigers to their fifth 3C2A State Championship in RCC history. Overall, Arguelles will be endearing his 24 years as a coach at RCC. He has continued the success and traditions of the program that legendary coach, Dennis Rogers established when he took the program from the depths in 1990. Arguelles has worked in all facets of the game, assisting players with their continued development and growth mentally and physically. “It’s an absolute area of emphasis and a standard that was established in the early years with Dennis, and his staff. We take tremendous pride in continuing these standards and preparing these young men for their next opportunities in the game and in life!”

Arguelles has also been a part of all five California Community College State Baseball Championships at RCC. The Tigers are one of only three colleges to win three consecutive state titles (2000-2001-2002). RCC also won state titles in 2007 and most recently in 2022. All in all, Arguelles and RCC have been to the State Championship six times, with 2008 being the only year they were not able to win the title.

Since transitioning to the Tigers' head coach in 2016, Arguelles and staff have assisted 87 student-athletes onto the next levels of opportunity, including NCAA Divisions I-III and the NAIA levels. Five players have been drafted, with the most recent in 2022 being Ignacio “Nacho” Alvarez by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round. During this same span, RCC has had four players named either OEC Pitcher of the Year or Player of the Year. Most recently, Mathew Bardowell was named the State and National Player of the Year in 2022. Arguelles was also named the Orange Empire Conference John Altobelli Coach of the Year and the American Baseball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year that year.

As a student-athlete, Arguelles was an All-County and All-League (Mountain View) infielder out of Norco High School, where he learned and played under Gary Parcel and Don Harris. He led his team to consecutive league titles in his junior and senior years, which also saw his teams lose to both eventual CIF Champions as well.

After high school, Arguelles found his way to Riverside Community College to play for Dennis Rogers, who he would also eventually coach with as well. At RCC, he played every position, but catcher on the diamond and earned All-Orange Empire Conference player honors after guiding his teams to the regional playoffs both years.

After RCC, Arguelles accepted a scholarship to Arizona State University and played under Pat Murphy, who is the bench coach currently for the Milwaukee Brewers. He helped guide his teams both years to Super Regional berths (1997 & 1998), and in 1998,  Arguelles and ASU qualified for the College World Series in Omaha. The Sundevils eventually lost in the National Championship to the University of Southern California. Arguelles earned All-College World Series First Team honors as an outfielder. That same year he was drafted by the Anaheim Angels and played a season within their organization before he headed back to start his coaching career at Riverside City College.

Arguelles earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Arizona State University and earned a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University.

Arguelles enjoys his time away from the field and campus with his family. Which includes his wife, Adrienne, and their children: son Rudy lll and their daughter-in-law Devin, grandsons Anson and Bucky, and granddaughter Wynona; daughter Charli; son Ponciano; daughter Karissa; son Grant; and daughter Leighton.

 

Coach Arguelles by the Numbers

Year Overall Record Conference Record Finish
2016 25-18 9-12 3C2A SoCal Regional
2017 29-13 15-6 3C2A SoCal Regional
2018 27-17 11-10 3C2A Super Regional
2019 32-12 15-6 3C2A Super Regional
2020 16-6 2-3 Season cut short due to COVID
2021 -- -- No season due to COVID
2022 38-12 15-6 3C2A State Champions
2023 28-13 15-6 3C2A SoCal Regional
Total 195-91 82-49