Randy Betten joined the UC Riverside coaching staff in September 2004, coming to the Highlanders after one year at Cal Baptist University and eight seasons at Riverside Community College.
The 2007 version of the Highlanders won the Big West Conference Championship and was ranked as high as 13th in the nation during the year. That championship marked the first time in 20 years that a Division I program in the UC system won its conference championship outright.
While at Cal Baptist, Betten served as an assistant to former UCR assistant Gary Adcoc, where the Lancers overcame a slow start to post a 30-22 record and finished as runners-up in the 2004 Region II Tournament.
Prior to joining the Lancers, Betten served on Head Coach Dennis Rogers’ staff at RCC from 1996-2003. He was the head assistant when the TIgers won three straight California Community College state championships from 2000-02.
Throughout his coaching career, Betten has had 40 position players either drafted or signed to professional contracts.
Betten played professionally for six years after being taken in the 26th round by the California Angels in the 1995 draft. He reached as high as the AAA level with the Angels’ teams in Vancouver and Edmonton in 1998 and 1999. He began his coaching career in 2000 with the Angels Midwest League affiliate, Cedar Rapids.
A graduate of New Life Christian High Sschool in Highland, CA, Betten began his college career at RCC, earning All-American, All-Southern California and All-Orange Empire Conference honors for Coach Rogers in 1992 and 1993. He then earned a scholarship to Arizona State. Playing for Coach Jim Brock, Betten was part of a team that finished third in the 1994 College World Series. In 1995, Betten earned All-Pacific 10 Conference First-Team honors. He also served as a team captain.
Betten earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Thomas Edison State College in 1998. He also earned a master’s degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific in 2002.
Betten’s hobbies include playing golf and cooking. He and his wife, Amy, have three children - Beau, Cody and Grace - and reside in Riverside.
