Jeff Ruland

Jeff Ruland (born December 16, 1958)

Teams coached: Iona Gaels, Albuquerque Thunderbirds, District of Columbia Firebirds
Iona record: 139-135 (.507)
District of Columbia record^: 41-60 (.406)
Overall record^: 180-195 (.480)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  3  (2000, 2001, 2006)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  0
  • MAAC Regular Season Champion:  1  (2001)
  • MAAC Tournament Champion:  3  (2000, 2001, 2006)
  • NCAA Division II Tournament Appearances:  1  (2012)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2009-2013 District of Columbia
2008-2009 Philadelphia 76ers (asst)
2007-2008 Albuquerque Thunderbirds
1998-2007 Iona
1995-1998 Iona (asst)
1993-1994 Philadelphia 76ers (asst)

Jeff Ruland Facts

  • Jeffrey George Ruland
  • Born December 16, 1958
  • Hometown: Suffolk County, New York
  • Alma Mater: Iona College (BA, 1980)
  • The 6’11” Ruland starred at Sachem HS (NY) and went on to play for head coach Jim Valvano for four seasons at Iona
    • Drafted in the 2nd round of the 1980 NBA Draft (25th overall) by the Golden State Warriors
  • Played for FC Barcelona for one season before signing with the NBA’s Washington Bullets in 1981; played in Washington for five seasons (1981-86)
    • Made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1982 and was twice named an NBA All-Star (1984 and 1985)
    • Retired from injury in 1987 after a short stint with the Philadelphia 76ers; made a comeback in 1992 and played 13 more games in Philly
      • Played in 11 games the following season with the Detroit Pistons before retiring from playing for good
    • Head coaches he played for include Gene Shue, Matt Guokas, Jim Lynam and Ron Rothstein
  • Spent the 1993-94 on Fred Carter’s staff with the 76ers before returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach
  • Was one of Tim Welsh‘s for his three-year tenure at the helm, then became the Gaels’ head coach in 1998
    • Went 139-135 over nine seasons, winning three MAAC Tournaments for NCAA Tournament bids plus a share of the 2001 MAAC title
    • After the third NCAA bid in 2006, the 2006-07 Gaels went just 2-28 (1-17) and Ruland was fired at the end of the season
    • Later sued his alma mater, claiming that the firing was racially-motivated and that the school did not approve of his interracial marriage
  • Served as head coach of the (former) Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA D-League for the 2007-08 season, going 22-28
  • Returned to the 76ers as an assistant for one more season (2008-09), this time working under head coach Tony DiLeo
  • Hired in 2009 to be the head coach at D-II District of Columbia, leading the Firebirds for four seasons
    • Built the team up from a 1-20 record in his first year to a 22-6 record and D-II NCAA Tournament bid in his third
    • Fortunes turned the following season and Ruland was fired in 2013 after going just 6-20 (5-13 ECC)

Jeff Ruland Coaching Tree

  • coming soon

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels only