Jim Tucker used to roam the sidelines at Riverside High School, first as a water boy, then as a player and assistant coach.
Now, he will have the chance to realize a lifelong dream.
On Wednesday night, Tucker was named the head football coach for the Vikings. He replaces Harry Armstrong, who did not reapply for the position after leading the program to the PIAA Class 2A semifinals in 2014 and the District 2 Class 2A playoffs last season.
“This means everything to me,” Tucker, 30, said. “It is a job that I wanted ever since I was a water boy. It is something that I have been working toward and dreaming about my whole life.”
Tucker played at Riverside and was a standout receiver from 2010 to 2012. He used his speed to be featured as a playmaker with 34 receptions for 667 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior.
He was also a track and field standout. Tucker was the District 2 Class 2A champion in the 200-meter dash, a silver-medal winner in the 400 and a bronze-medal winner in the 100. He was also the Robert Spagna champion in the 200 and earned a silver medal in the 200 at the PIAA Class 2A Championships.
Tucker continued his track and field career at Shippensburg University.
He returned to Riverside and started as an assistant junior high football coach in 2018. Tucker climbed the ladder, eventually becoming the wide receiver and defensive back coach for the Vikings in 2019, spent two seasons as the head coach of the junior high program and served as the defensive coordinator for Armstrong.
His contributions helped Riverside reach the District 2 Class 2A final in 2023, win the district championship and make a run in the PIAA playoffs in 2024 and play in the semifinals of the district playoffs this past season.
“I want to continue to build on the success that we have had the last couple of years,” Tucker said. “We have a strong foundation that I helped build with Coach Armstrong, and I want to expand and build on that to greater heights. I want to get some things re-established. We want to get reset, realigned and back to work toward a strong season. We have a lot of talented guys coming back and competing for league and district championships and keeping us on the path we have been on.
“Obviously, we want success on the field. But I want to help build the character of the players. Football careers end eventually, and I want them to leave this program as high-quality young men.”
Armstrong served as the head coach for 13 seasons and had a record of 98-60. He was The Times-Tribune Coach of the Year in 2007 and in 2024. Riverside went 8-3 last season and was runner-up in the LFC Division III while qualifying for the District 2 Class 2A semifinals.
Tucker is the fourth new coach in the LFC named this offseason. Brett Stage is at Montrose, Dave Shimkosky is at Western Wayne and Ray Dayton is at Scranton.