Rich Ressa became the San Joaquin Delta College Men’s Basketball Head Coach in the spring of 2008.  In his first year at the helm, he led the Mustangs to the Final Four of the CCCAA State Championships.  Making Delta College the only Big 8 team to make two Final Four appearances in the last decade (2005, 2009).

Rich has played an integral part in building the Delta College Men’s Basketball program’s tradition of excellence. As a head coach, he has two Final Eight appearances (2009, 2013) and one Final Four (2009).  But his contribution started long before that while he worked as the Associate Head Coach for previous Delta College Head Coach, Brian Katz.  He worked under the 2009 California Community College Coaches Hall of Famer for 11 seasons, until Katz accepted the Head Coach position at Sacramento State University.  During that span, he helped the Mustangs win four conference championships as well as reach three Final Eight (2000, 2005, 2007) and a Final Four (2005).

Ressa also organized and coordinated several basketball clinics that brought to the area some very notable head coaches such as the late Rick Majerus (Utah/St. Louis), Mike Dunlap (NBA Bobcats/Metro State), Dick Bennett (Wisconsin/Washington State), Lorenzo Romar (Pepperdine/Washington) and Mike Gillespie (Texas A&M/Kentucky). 

Prior to San Joaquin Delta College, Ressa was the head coach at Franklin High School in Stockton from 1993-1997.

Coach Ressa has deep roots in the community since moving to Stockton when he accepted a full scholarship in 1989 to play Division I Basketball at the University of the Pacific for legendary Coach Bob Thomason.  During his time at UOP, he had the opportunity to compete with many players in his conference that went on to have successful NBA careers such as Larry Johnson (UNLV/Hornets/NY Nicks), Cedric Ceballos (Fullerton/Phoenix Suns/LA Lakers) and Bryon Russell (Long Beach State/Utah Jazz).  Both years Ressa played several times against the famous UNLV Rebels teams let by Jerry Tarkanian who were ranked #1 in the Nation for two years and also went on to win the 1990 NCAA National Championship.    In his senior year at Pacific, his team finished third in conference had the schools best record in 13 years. 

Ressa graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Sciences.  After graduating, he was part the Athletic-Academic Liaison Council at the University of the Pacific.  He then went on to get his teaching credentials and started teaching at several schools in the Stockton area until he became the head coach at Delta College in 2008.

Because of his background in education, Coach Ressa strives to create an atmosphere that prepares student-athletes for the four year college level. 

His coaching and teaching philosophy is designed to develop collaboration, integrity and discipline within the team, as well as each individual.

The concept is to help further the success and productivity of the student-athlete as he is preparing for the next level of his career on and off the court.

Coach Ressa is himself a successful product of the junior college system. He played at West Valley College under California Community College Coaches Hall of Famer Bob Burton who went on to lead Cal State Fullerton to a Big West Championship and an NCAA appearance. At West Valley Ressa was part of the team that made the school’s first Final Eight appearance in 1988.  As a sophomore, he led the team with 20 points and 7 rebounds per game which earned him a place on the 1989 California JUCA All-State Team.  Prior to playing at West Valley, Rich attended Westmont High School in the Bay area where his senior year team won the section title for the time in the school’s history. He was named Section Player of the Year and earned 2^nd Team All-State.

Rich Ressa resides in Stockton with his Wife Beatriz and his 2 year old son Garrett.