San Bernardino Valley College Men's Cross Country

Ratigan Head Coach Office: Gym 324 Listen to Coach Ratigan's KCAA interview HERE (The interview starts at the 15:22 mark.) Jim Ratigan begins his 7th year on the staff at San Bernardino Valley. Jim has been involved in the sport of running for the last 30 years as a runner and coach. Jim was integral in the recent run of state titles with the Wolverines as one of his primary focal points was the recruitment of athletes. During that time Valley arguably had the best recruiting classes among the state's junior colleges. The Wolverines have also won an astounding eight straight Southern California titles stretching from 2006-2013 as well as 18 consecutive Foothill Conference titles. During that time Jim was also integral in helping many of the Valley runners obtain scholarships to numerous NCAA Division 1 and 2 schools as well as top level NAIA programs. Jim's top priority is to help athletes develop as students and realize the importance of a college education for their future. This year eight athletes have been accepted to Cal Poly Pomona, Northern Arizona University, UC Berkeley, Cal State LA and University of St. Mary (Kansas) where they will pursue a four year degree and continue their running. Last fall Jim helped guide SBVC to a third place showing at the California State Championships in Fresno and was recognized as the 2013 Foothill Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year. Prior SBVC, Jim was a successful high school (St. Fancis, La Canada) and Junior Olympic level coach. His youth teams claimed two USATF national runner-up finishes as well as three third place finishes in his five years with the West Coast Gazelles. Jim is a graduate of Arcadia High School (Class of 1986), Glendale Community College (1988) and Cal State Northridge (1991). Having been a graduate himself from the California Community College system, Jim sees the benefits first hand of going to a junior college out of high school. Jim is also a USATF Level 1 certified coach. Jim is in his 24th year in the Central School District (Rancho Cucamonga) where he teaches math and science. His wife, Michelle is also a teacher and their son, Kolby is currently a sophomore at Rancho Cucamonga High School where he runs cross country and track. The Ratigan's reside in Alta Loma.