| Scott Rueck won 288 games, including a national
title, at George Fox. Photo by Rob Kurtycz |
George Fox women's basketball coach Scott Rueck is making a short move with a big jump, as he has been named head coach at Oregon State.
An Oregon State alumnus, Rueck has compiled a 288-88 record with five Sweet 16 appearances and a national title in 14 seasons at George Fox. Rueck has been the D3hoops.com West Region Coach of the Year all three times the award has been given, in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
"Coach Rueck brings an impressive set of credentials to the position, including a NCAA national championship,” said Bob De Carolis, athletic director at Oregon State. "As a native Oregonian and Beaver alumnus, he has an extensive network of relationships that have been built over the years. He has earned the respect of the basketball community in the Northwest through hard work and integrity and we look forward to him leading our program."
Rueck is the second Northwest Conference coach this month to take a job at a scholarship level, as former Puget Sound coach Suzy Barcomb was hired at soon-to-be Division II Cal State-East Bay. Puget Sound and George Fox each made the NCAA Tournament this past season after finishing 1-2 in the Northwest Conference.
George Fox 28-3 this past season, reaching the Elite Eight before losing at eventual national champion Washington U. The previous season, the Bruins had lost all five starters from their 2008 Sweet 16 team and were picked to finish fifth in the conference. But with its four returning letterwinners and 10 freshmen, Rueck led the team to a school record 32-0 season to win the national championship.