Butte athletic director announces retirement

Rigsbee tallied 136 wins, 10 titles as football coach

BUTTE VALLEY » Butte College Athletic Director Craig Rigsbee announced Thursday that he’s retiring after spending 37 years at Butte College.

Rigsbee posted the announcement on Facebook saying his last day at Butte will be Jan. 4, 2021.

Rigsbee has been the college’s athletic director since 2005. Prior to becoming AD, Rigsbee coached the Butte College football team where he racked up 136 wins, 10 conference championships, 15 bowl appearances and nine bowl wins. He was hired as head coach of the football team in 1990, taking over for then- coach Mike Liddell.

“I’d like to thank Mike Liddell and Fred Allen for taking a chance on a 24-year- old 37 years ago,” Rigsbee wrote. “I hope I didn’t disappoint you.”

Rigsbee also thanked those who worked behind the scenes of Butte College athletics like the secretaries, custodians, mailroom employees and transportation employees.

Rigsbee was inducted into the Chico Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and has served as a member of the Chico Sports Hall of Fame committee.

Rigsbee has coached many football players who have achieved success on a national level. At Butte, he coached Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboys star offensive lineman Larry Allen. Former Roadrunner and current Green Bay Packers quarterback

Aaron Rodgers also played under Rigsbee.

During Rigsbee’s 16 years as the head football coach, the Roadrunners went 136-33-2.

Aside from being the athletic director, Rigsbee often served as the announcer at Roadrunner basketball games and coached youth basketball.

MATT BATES — ENTERPRISE-RECORD FILE Butte College Director of Health, Kinesiology and Athletics Craig Rigsbee leads a tour through the new Kinesiology and Athletic Performance Center on Nov. 16, 2019, in Butte Valley. Rigsbee announced his retirement Thursday.