Coaches
Russ Critchfield
Head Basketball Coach
Russ Critchfield enters his 14th season at the helm of the 2011-2012 Butte College Roadrunners with high hopes for another outstanding season. Last year’s squad finished 19-9 and won the Golden Valley Conference Championship for the second time in the last three years finishing with a 9-1 league mark. They played two games in the California State Championships beating Monterey Peninsula College on the road in the first round before losing at City College of San Francisco, the eventual state champion.
This season the “Roadrunners” will be working hard to stay atop of the Golden Valley Conference and return to “post-season play”! During his tenure at Butte College Coach Critchfield has sent more than 30 players onto the four year level and has posted an overall career coaching record of 311-247. His coaching experiences include 17 years as a Division 1 assistant coach with stints at San Diego State University (1), University of California at Berkeley (9), Saint Mary’s College (3), and the University of Washington (4). While serving as an assistant college coach he had the good fortune to help recruit and or coach 6 NBA players and saw over 25 of these players drafted by the NBA. As a head high school coach his teams recorded an overall 148-82 mark, winning one championship, and playing in several post-seasons.
As a former hoop player, Coach Critchfield earned All-American honors at the University of California at Berkeley in 1968, played for the ABA Champion Oakland Oaks in 1969, was inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, and in 2007 was inducted into the Pacific 10 Conference Basketball Hall of Honor. Educationally he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of California, Berkeley and his Master of Arts Degree in Physical Education and Athletic Administration at Saint Mary’s College. Along with his lovely wife Susan they reside in Chico. Their immediate family includes Kyle Critchfield of Pasadena, Cathy Bull of Venice, Jim Bull of South Lake Tahoe, and grandchildren Spencer (11), Josh (9), and Kaylee (7).
Colin Carr
Assistant Basketball Coach
Coach Colin Carr enters into his second year as the head assistant coach for the Butte College Roadrunners. He is an energetic, enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeable young coach who was a tremendous and immediate asset to the program last season helping the Roadrunners garner the 2011 Golden Valley Conference Championship. In addition to his numerous coaching duties Coach Carr serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator and academic liaison to John Soldate, Athletic-Academic Counselor. Coach Carr brought a wealth of coaching experience with him to Butte College having served three years as an assistant coach at Chico State University under former head coach Puck Smith and current head coach Greg Clink. Prior to Chico State University Coach Carr also served as an assistant coach to Kele Fitzhugh at Shasta College. An accomplished player himself, Coach Carr excelled at Shasta High School in Redding, played two years for Shasta College enjoying tremendous success, and continued his playing career at Chico State University where he again was an integral part of his team’s success. He graduated from Chico State with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English in 2010 and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Kinesiology at Chico State University. This summer Coach Carr married his fiancé Christen Hashim, an English teacher and Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Las Plumas High School. They reside in Chico.
Nick Lonnegren
Assistant Basketball Coach
Nick Lonnegren, a former standout Golden Valley All-Conference guard in 2007 for the Roadrunners returns for a second season as an assistant for the Butte College Roadrunners. His exuberance, playing experience, and familiarity with Butte College were a tremendous asset to the program helping the Runners win another Golden Valley Conference Championship in 2011. Coach Lonnegren transferred to Chico State University from Butte College in 2007 where he continued his outstanding basketball career for head coach Greg Clink and the Wildcats and also excelled in track running in the 100-200-400 meter events. From Minden, Nevada, Coach Lonnegren graduated from Chico State University in 2010 earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology and is currently working towards his master’s degree in Sports Psychology. Among his many coaching duties Coach Lonnegren oversees the strength and conditioning training for the team, opponent scouting, recruiting, and program fundraising efforts.
