Coach creates family

After graduating from college, Rick Croy spent his first two years at UC Riverside and worked under the guidance of John Masi, one of the state's leaders in victories. He then returned to UC Riverside as the top assistant for the men's basketball program and at 25 years old was the youngest Division I assistant head coach in the country. In just five years at the helm, Croy has brought the Citrus men's basketball team from obscurity to prominence.

But Croy said he has not been blinded by the success and said he is still learning from others around him.

"For us it has never been about the trophies, it has been about the relationships we build with each other," Croy said. "My learning never stops. The first character of a leader is to be a lifelong learner."

"I am constantly learning from the players, the coaches and the journey we take each season. Each journey is different," he said.

And what a journey Croy has had so far, even before his tenure at Citrus Croy was already achieving high levels of success. Graduating from San Francisco State University in 1999, Croy holds the school record for three-point field goals with 167 and was named to the All-California College Athletic Association team three times.

"In practice the coaches and I want to challenge the guys and then during a game we want them to know we are behind them," Croy said.

"But I want them to be successful beyond the court as well," he said. "We have turned down many good athletes because we didn't feel they truly wanted to be student athletes.

To be a student athlete they have to value their education as well as the game."

Many of the players on the team have said  Croy has created a strong family environment where everyone supports each other.

"He has created a selfless team," said freshman guard Donnel Phifer. "He taught us to be brothers and work as a family."

Fellow freshman guard Hakeem Washington said Croy has also helped them grow as individuals.

"He has taught me how to become a tough competitor on and off the court," Washington said. "Every one of us has become mentally tough. This is a mentally tough team because of him."