BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — It was a welcome party and homecoming all at once up on the hill. As Bakersfield College formally welcomed home the new face of the football program, R. Todd Littlejohn.

Littlejohn was all smiles as he walked into Memorial Stadium as interim head coach on Thursday afternoon.

He is now the 11th coach in Bakersfield College football history. After growing up in Bakersfield, he started his football career as a BHS Driller then followed up with a stint at BC before an All-American career at West Texas State.

"(When I got here) I looked around and said 'Wow, I'm at Bakersfield College," he said. "It is such an honor, such a pleasure," Littlejohn said.

He's soaking up his memories with old friends back in Bakersfield while ready to seek some new ones in Memorial Stadium, looking to bring some dominance back to the Renegades football program.

“Realizing the tradition...I understand it, I embrace it," he said. "I’m prepared for it that way and understand the importance of it. It means a lot and I am honored just to be able to move forward with those things. It is a big deal.”