Ron Caragher served as the San José State University football head coach during the 2013 through 2016 seasons.
In his four seasons with the Spartans, Caragher transitioned San José State into the Mountain West – arguably, the biggest competitive leap in the program's history covering three centuries. There were two top half finishes in the conference’s West Division including the second-place tie in 2015 that led to an invitation and victory in the inaugural AutoNation Cure Bowl, the Spartans’ fourth consecutive bowl win dating back to 1990.
The 2015 AutoNation Cure Bowl-winning team was proficient in many facets of the game nationally – second in fewest passing yards allowed and in net punting, fourth in fewest penalty yards per game, fifth in pass completion percentage and tenth in time of possession. San Jose State was 12th in third-down conversions at a school record 47.8 percent rate and 34th in total defense, the second season in a row in the top-35.
In 2013, he was a first-year San José State football head coach to produce a .500 or better winning percentage and a winning record in conference play with the Spartans. San José State finished 5-3 in its first Mountain?West Conference season and 6-6 overall. In the university’s previous two moves into new conferences in 1969/70 and 1996, San José State finished no better .500 in the league standings.
San José State concluded its 2013 season with its first victory over a top-20 team in 13 years when the Spartans outscored #16/#13-Fresno State, 62-52. SJSU’s potent offense set single-season school records for total offense, most passing yards, most first downs and most field goals, and ranked in the top-20 nationally in passing offense and total offense per game.
In 2014, San José State ended a 17-season winless streak in overtime games with a comeback win at Wyoming. The Spartans were the top statistical team in the FBS for fewest passing yards allowed and finished 32nd overall in total defense.
Since 2013, the Spartans received 32 All-Mountain West first, second or honorable mention all-conference honors, had nine players accept post-season all-star game invitations and five become National Football League draft picks.
San José State’s academic achievements were noteworthy, too. The program was either second or third among the seven Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in California for its Academic Progress Rate score and was credited with an all-time high 975 (out of 1,000) score in 2015. Spartan football players earned 49 academic all-conference honors during his coaching reign. In 2016, wide receiver Tim Crawley was selected as the university's first National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete award winner.
For the 2016 season, Caragher served for the first time as a voter on the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll.
Caragher came to San José State after six seasons at the University of San Diego (USD). The Toreros compiled a 44-22 win-loss record and were the 2007, 2011 and 2012 Pioneer Football League co-champions. Overall in eight seasons, Caragher’s head coaching record is 53-37.
Twice, in 2007 and 2011, he was a nominee for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award recognizing the top head coach in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The 2007 team finished second in the final Sports Network Mid-Major Poll, ranked first among all FCS teams in scoring and passing efficiency and third in total offense.
In 2011, Caragher was the Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year after leading the Toreros to a third 9-2 win-loss record in five seasons and a ranking in FCS Coaches Top-25 poll during the regular season.
San José State is Caragher's fourth university in a coaching career that includes seven bowl appearances between 1994 and 2016. The 1990 UCLA graduate got his first taste of college coaching as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1994. He was promoted to a full-time assistant's position in 1996. In seven seasons, he coached wide receivers, punters and kickers.
Before accepting the University of San Diego head coaching position, Caragher worked four years as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Kentucky. In 2006, the Wildcats posted an 8-5 record, was invited to a bowl game for the first time in seven years and concluded the season with a Music City Bowl victory over Clemson - Kentucky's first bowl win since 1984.
Born on January 24, 1967, in nearby Redwood City, Calif., Caragher grew up in San José and nearby Morgan Hill, and graduated from San José's Bellarmine Prep.
A college quarterback, Caragher played on the 1985 through 1989 UCLA teams that won four consecutive bowl games including the 1986 Rose Bowl.
Caragher and his wife, Wendy, the Spartans, SJSU professor Dr. Jean Novak, the University’s communicative sciences and disorders department and San Diego-based Autism Tree Project Foundation (ATPF) collaborate on a mentoring program to provide support for local children with autism. Additionally, the Spartans partner with “Wipeout Cancer” to assist youngsters and families dealing with cancer.
The Caraghers have three sons - Josh, a sophomore at San Jose State, Ryan and Scott.
| Year | School | Record | Notes |
| 2016 | San José State University | 4-8 | |
| 2015 | San José State University | 6-7 | AutoNation Cure Bowl champion |
| 2014 | San José State University | 3-9 | |
| 2013 | San José State University | 6-6 | |
| Four seasons | 19-30 | ||
| 2012 | University of San Diego | 8-3 | Pioneer Football League co-champion |
| 2011 | University of San Diego | 9-2 | Pioneer Football League co-champion |
| 2010 | University of San Diego | 5-6 | |
| 2009 | University of San Diego | 4-7 | |
| 2008 | University of San Diego | 9-2 | |
| 2007 | University of San Diego | 9-2 | Pioneer Football League co-champion |
| Six seasons | 44-22 | ||
| Overall head coaching record | 63-52 | ||
| 2006 | University of Kentucky assistant | 8-5 | Music City Bowl |
| 2005 | University of Kentucky assistant | 3-8 | |
| 2004 | University of Kentucky assistant | 2-9 | |
| 2003 | University of Kentucky assistant | 4-8 | |
| 2002 | UCLA assistant | 8-5 | Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2001 | UCLA assistant | 7-4 | |
| 2000 | UCLA assistant | 6-6 | Sun Bowl |
| 1999 | UCLA assistant | 5-6 | |
| 1998 | UCLA assistant | 10-2 | Pac-10 champion, Rose Bowl |
| 1997 | UCLA assistant | 10-2 | Pac-10 co-champions, Cotton Bowl |
| 1996 | UCLA assistant | 5-6 | |
| 1995 | UCLA graduate assistant | 7-5 | Aloha Bowl |
| 1994 | UCLA graduate assistant | 5-6 | |
| 1989 | UCLA quarterback | 3-7-1 | |
| 1988 | UCLA quarterback | 10-2 | Cotton Bowl |
| 1987 | UCLA quarterback | 10-2 | Pac-10 co-champions, Aloha Bowl |
| 1986 | UCLA quarterback | 8-3-1 | Freedom Bowl |
| 1985 | UCLA quarterback | 9-2-1 | Pac-10 champion, Rose Bowl |