The Ridgefield Raptors are proud to announce the return of Head Coach Chris Cota for the 2025 season, continuing his leadership of the club since its inaugural year in 2019. Cota will be joined by returning Assistant Coach Nick Allen, who enters his sixth season with the Raptors, and new Pitching Coach Jaren Hunter, a former Raptors ace and Oregon State standout.
Chris Cota, a cornerstone of the Ridgefield franchise, has just completed his 25th year at the helm of the College of the Canyons baseball program. Before his coaching career, Cota played right field for the Cougars in 1985 and 1986, starring on the 1986 team that won the CCCAA State Championship. That championship squad was recently inducted into the COC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023. Later that year, Cota was drafted and signed by the Chicago White Sox, playing four seasons in the White Sox and California Angels organizations.
Cota’s steady leadership has helped build a strong and consistent identity for Ridgefield baseball, guiding the Raptors to four consecutive postseason appearances and establishing a winning culture rooted in fundamentals and development.
Joining him once again is Nick Allen, a respected figure in the Southwest Washington baseball community. Allen has spent 25 years coaching at the high school level, including the last decade at Ridgefield High School, where he led the Spudders to league titles in 2016 and 2021 and a district championship in 2019. He was named the Region 7 Coach of the Year by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association in 2019.
Allen has been a vital part of the Raptors staff since 2019, earning a reputation for his player-first approach, consistent mentorship, and deep knowledge of the game.
New to the coaching staff in 2025 is Jaren Hunter, who returns to Ridgefield in a new role after making his mark on the mound as a player in 2021. That summer, Hunter delivered one of the most dominant pitching performances in team history, going 5-0 with a 1.92 ERA and 36 strikeouts across 44.1 innings. A native of Damascus, Oregon, Hunter went on to pitch four seasons for Oregon State University, appearing in 43 games with 28 starts and racking up 111 strikeouts in over 146 innings.
Hunter’s transition from player to coach brings a full-circle moment to the Raptors organization, as he now returns to help develop the next wave of West Coast League talent. His experience at the collegiate level and firsthand knowledge of the Ridgefield culture make him a key addition to the 2025 staff.
With this trio leading the charge, the Raptors are poised for another competitive season at the RORC.