Russ Critchfield served five seasons as a member of the Chico State men’s basketball coaching staff from 2021–22 through 2025–26, bringing more than five decades of playing and coaching experience to the Wildcats’ bench.
One of the most accomplished basketball figures in Northern California, Critchfield brought a résumé defined by elite guard play, player development, and a deep understanding of the game. During his time on the Chico State staff, he helped guide the Wildcats to three NCAA West Regional appearances, an NCAA West Regional championship, an Elite Eight berth, and a CCAA Tournament championship game appearance.
Critchfield was part of a Chico State staff that helped lead the Wildcats to a 22–5 record in 2021–22, when Chico State captured the NCAA West Regional title and advanced to the Elite Eight. He also helped the program return to the NCAA West Regional semifinals in 2023–24 and reach the NCAA Tournament again in 2024–25, when the Wildcats finished 24–7, went 19–3 in CCAA play, and advanced to the CCAA Tournament championship game.
Before arriving at Chico State, Critchfield established himself as one of the most respected coaches in the region. His coaching background included Division I assistant coaching stops at California and Washington. Cal notes that he served as an assistant coach for the Golden Bears from 1977–85 and later worked as an assistant at Washington under Lynn Nance through 1993.
Critchfield’s playing career was equally distinguished. A Salinas High School graduate, he went on to become one of the top guards in University of California history. He was named Cal’s Most Valuable Player three straight years from 1966–68, leading the Golden Bears in both scoring and assists each season. He earned Helms Athletic Foundation First Team All-America honors in 1968 and was an honorable mention All-America selection in 1967.
A two-time first-team all-conference selection, Critchfield completed his Cal career ranked second on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,437 points and became just the second player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points. He also set what was then Cal’s career scoring average record at 19.4 points per game, averaging 15.5 points as a sophomore, 21.0 as a junior, and 22.0 as a senior.
Critchfield was inducted into the California Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995. He is also a member of the Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame, which recognizes his standout career at Salinas High School and Cal.
Following his collegiate career, Critchfield played professionally with the Oakland Oaks of the American Basketball Association. He appeared in 47 games during the 1968–69 season and was part of the Oaks’ ABA championship team.
