A Brush with Bruin Pride

I met Scott Rueck at NBC Camp in Maui last week and you’re thinking, “So…” The point is that I didn’t know who he was either which is a shame considering that I’m immersed in the basketball world coaching kids, playing at my alma mater with current players, following the NBA and even the NBDL. But I didn’t know who Scott Rueck was and I think Coach Rueck is just fine with that.

From time to time you rub shoulders or work alongside someone who belongs on a pedestal but wouldn’t dare agree. You’re joking with the guy or girl, befriending the individual only to find later that he or she is the kind of person you read about in the paper. They’re so unsung it’s as if you encountered an apparition unknowingly and lived to tell about it. (If Scott is reading this right now, he’s uncomfortable from laughing so hard.) But that’s how I felt as my time in Maui came to a close. The advent of the internet means you can search a dude on an engine and pull up the fact that Scott Rueck is the highly successful Head Women’s Basketball coach of George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. He led the women to a national championship in 2008-09 posting a flawless 32-0 record. That’s who Scott Rueck is.

Coach Rueck has led his team to the NCAA tournament 7 times and as of 2008-09 had an overall winning percentage of better than 75 percent. Talk about finding a niche. All this and he never played college basketball. He’s not 6-feet tall and I’ve never seen his vertical leap. He’s a quick witted comedian with an earnest interest in people. He loves God and family. He’s immensely loyal and arrests buy in from those whom he leads. I’m sure of this and I absorbed it all just rubbin’ shoulders with him at camp. Who knew? You never know I guess. Go Bruins! (George Fox Bruins that is…)