WBSK: Bruins’ Search Committee Hopes to Have New Cage Coach in Place by Aug. 1

NEWBERG, Ore. - A target date of August 1 to have a new coach in place has been set by George Fox University’s eight-person women’s basketball search committee as the Bruins seek a replacement for long-time mentor Scott Rueck, who has taken the head coaching position at his alma mater, Oregon State University.

The search committee includes director of athletics and committee chair Craig Taylor, associate director of athletics Steve Grant, softball coach Jessica Hollen, special assistant to the president Fred Gregory, faculty athletics representative Dr. Kerry Irish, and three members of the Bruin basketball team - Keisha Gordon, Carrie Myers, and Arianna Mohsenian.  University president Dr. Robin Baker is an ex-officio member of the committee.

“We have received over 25 official applications so far and are continuing to accept them even as we begin the evaluation process,” explained Taylor following a meeting of the committee on Monday afternoon.  “We have been quite pleased with the quality of the candidates thus far, ranging from prominent high school coaches up to Division I assistants, and from all over the country, even as far away as Florida.”

Advertisements for the opening have been posted with the NCAA On Line, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and on the George Fox website.  In addition to coaching the women’s basketball team, the position includes an academic appointment in the department of health and human performance. 

Rueck directed the George Fox program for 14 seasons (1996-2010), posting a winning record every year and finishing with a 288-88 overall record.  During that time, the Bruins won or shared seven Northwest Conference titles, made nine post-season appearances (two in the NAIA, seven in the NCAA), and won the NCAA Division III national championship in 2009.  His successor will inherit a team that went 28-3 this past season, reached the ‘Elite 8’ of the NCAA Tournament, and returns nine letterwinners, including First Team All-NWC and Second Team All-West Region selections Gordon at wing and Hannah Munger at post.

“Scott built a nationally-recognized program by promoting not just himself or basketball to his recruits, but the university as a whole,” noted Taylor.  “As a result, while our players are certainly sad to see him go but happy for his new opportunity, everyone is expected back.  All of our new recruits are staying as well.  He did an outstanding job of contacting each player to make sure they are still on board with George Fox before he left for Corvallis.”