Ad Rutschman
Encyclopedia
Ad Rutschman is an American
coach of football
and baseball
in the state of Oregon
. He was a head football coach for 24 seasons, head baseball coach for 13 seasons, and served as athletic director for 25 years at Linfield College
. He is the first athletic director emeritus in the history of the college. He also served as head coach of football and baseball at his alma mater, Hillsboro High School.
. There he starred as a running back in the late 1940s, scoring 20 career touchdowns. After high school he turned down a professional contract with the NFL's Detroit Lions
and made up his mind to teach and coach sports. He received his degree in physical education and began teaching at Hilhi in 1954. He was an assistant baseball coach in 1955 before becoming the head baseball coach in 1956. He became the head football coach three years after that, winning a state championship in 1966.
As baseball coach of the Spartans he led the school to a co-state championship in 1962, with the title game rained out. He also led the team to both the 1966 and 1968 AAA state titles (the top division at that time in the OSAA
). The 1966 team featured future Major League
player Bob Beall
, and the 1968 team Bob’s brothers Jim and Gene. Rutschman also coached the first event, a baseball game, at Hillsboro’s Hare Field
in 1965. Hillsboro had four Little League teams when Rutschman began coaching at Hillsboro, but by the time he left, there were 41 teams.
After 13 years at Hillsboro High school, Rutschman was approached about taking over the head football coach position at Linfield College.
Rutschman also served as the head coach of the baseball program from 1971 to 1983. In his first season as the head baseball coach, he guided Linfield to the NAIA national championship. Before stepping down as head coach in 1983, he led the Wildcats to six conference championships and seven NAIA District 2 titles.
Rutschman is the only college coach at any level to have won national titles in both football and baseball. He was named Division II football coach of the year three times and was honored as the state of Oregon's Slats Gill man of the year five times, more than any other individual. Rutschman was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1988, the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
During his 25-year tenure as athletic director, the college's sports facilities took major leaps forward. The spacious and modern athletic complex, including two new gymnasiums, a swimming pool and multi-purpose field house, was constructed, a new baseball stadium was erected and the tennis courts were relocated and expanded. Locker rooms were renovated and a concession stand and ticket booth was built. The field house, a 26600 square feet (2,471.2 m²) multi-purpose facility completed in 1995, was named in honor of Rutschman and his wife, Joan, for their 27 years of service to the college.
in 2001 and has been acting in that capacity ever since. He also helps out at McMinnville High School, primarily in the preseason. He began in that capacity when his son, Don, was the head coach.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
coach of football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was a head football coach for 24 seasons, head baseball coach for 13 seasons, and served as athletic director for 25 years at Linfield College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
. He is the first athletic director emeritus in the history of the college. He also served as head coach of football and baseball at his alma mater, Hillsboro High School.
Early years
Rutschman was an athlete at Hillsboro High School (Hilhi Spartans) in his hometown of Hillsboro, OregonHillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
. There he starred as a running back in the late 1940s, scoring 20 career touchdowns. After high school he turned down a professional contract with the NFL's Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and made up his mind to teach and coach sports. He received his degree in physical education and began teaching at Hilhi in 1954. He was an assistant baseball coach in 1955 before becoming the head baseball coach in 1956. He became the head football coach three years after that, winning a state championship in 1966.
As baseball coach of the Spartans he led the school to a co-state championship in 1962, with the title game rained out. He also led the team to both the 1966 and 1968 AAA state titles (the top division at that time in the OSAA
Oregon School Activities Association
The Oregon School Activities Association is a non-profit, board-governed organization that regulates high school athletics and competitive activities via athletic conferences in the U.S. state of Oregon, providing equitable competition among its members, both public and private...
). The 1966 team featured future Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player Bob Beall
Bob Beall
Robert Brooks Beall is a former professional American baseball player who played Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates in...
, and the 1968 team Bob’s brothers Jim and Gene. Rutschman also coached the first event, a baseball game, at Hillsboro’s Hare Field
Hare Field
Hare Field is a multi-sport facility located in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. The facility opened in 1965 and is owned by the Hillsboro School District. Hare Field includes a baseball stadium, a football stadium, practice fields, and track and field equipment. The venue hosts high school...
in 1965. Hillsboro had four Little League teams when Rutschman began coaching at Hillsboro, but by the time he left, there were 41 teams.
After 13 years at Hillsboro High school, Rutschman was approached about taking over the head football coach position at Linfield College.
Linfield College
Rutschman was hired as the head football coach at Linfield College in 1968. His football teams won three NAIA Division II national championships, reached the postseason playoffs 13 times and won 15 conference titles. He led the team to a winning season in all 24 seasons as coach, part of Linfield's current all-divisions national record streak of 57 consecutive winning seasons. In 1991, Rutschman retired from coaching with a career record of 183-48-3 (.788).Rutschman also served as the head coach of the baseball program from 1971 to 1983. In his first season as the head baseball coach, he guided Linfield to the NAIA national championship. Before stepping down as head coach in 1983, he led the Wildcats to six conference championships and seven NAIA District 2 titles.
Rutschman is the only college coach at any level to have won national titles in both football and baseball. He was named Division II football coach of the year three times and was honored as the state of Oregon's Slats Gill man of the year five times, more than any other individual. Rutschman was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1988, the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
During his 25-year tenure as athletic director, the college's sports facilities took major leaps forward. The spacious and modern athletic complex, including two new gymnasiums, a swimming pool and multi-purpose field house, was constructed, a new baseball stadium was erected and the tennis courts were relocated and expanded. Locker rooms were renovated and a concession stand and ticket booth was built. The field house, a 26600 square feet (2,471.2 m²) multi-purpose facility completed in 1995, was named in honor of Rutschman and his wife, Joan, for their 27 years of service to the college.
Retirement
Rutschman stepped down as head coach of the football team in 1991 stating that he was burned out in the head coaching job. He still manages to keep his hand in the coaching profession. He was asked to come back and be the kickoff return coach by then head coach Jay LoceyJay Locey
Jay Locey is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He is currently the assistant head coach at Oregon State University...
in 2001 and has been acting in that capacity ever since. He also helps out at McMinnville High School, primarily in the preseason. He began in that capacity when his son, Don, was the head coach.