The Oregon State women’s basketball team has locked down the most successful coach in program history through the end of the 2021-2022 season, as Scott Rueck signed a two-year contract extension on Wednesday.
“It’s difficult to put into words how impressed I am with the incredible job that Coach Rueck has done in rebuilding our women’s basketball program and taking it to a historic level,” OSU Vice President/Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury said. “What this program has achieved on the court, in the classroom and in the community is a testament to Coach Rueck’s character and the Everyday Champions culture that we are striving to develop at Oregon State. I’m excited that Coach Rueck will continue to represent Beaver Nation for years to come and look forward to many more memorable experiences.”
Oregon State went 32-5 in 2015-16 and made the first Final Four appearance in program history. The Beavers have now made the NCAA Tournament in three-straight seasons, since snapping an 18-year tournament drought in 2013-14. In his six seasons as head coach, Rueck is responsible for three of OSU’s eight all-time NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Beavers finished last season ranked No. 2 in the nation in the final WBCA Coaches’ Poll. Oregon State’s 32 wins shattered the program record (previously 27), and the Beavers earned a number of individual honors, including All-America and Pac-12 Player of the Year recognition for guard Jamie Weisner. The team also led the nation in defensive rebounds (31.0) and field goal percentage defense (32.4). Rueck was honored for his team’s success by being named one of four finalists for the Naismith National Coach of the Year, joining UConn’s Geno Auriemma, South Carolina’s Dawn Staley and Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw, and was the runner-up in the AP Coach of the Year voting.
“I am very thankful and humbled to receive the continued support of President Ed Ray, Athletics Director Todd Stansbury and Deputy Athletics Director Marianne Vydra,” Rueck said. “Kerry and I love Oregon State and the community we are blessed to be a part of. It is a privilege to represent Beaver Nation and to work in an environment that provides our students the support and opportunities to achieve at a level beyond their imagination. The last six years have been both challenging and exhilarating for all associated with Oregon State women’s basketball, and I could not be more excited about our future and the opportunity to build upon this foundation.”
Rueck has the highest winning percentage of any coach in Oregon State history, coming away victorious in 61.6 percent of his team’s contests for an overall record of 122-76. The OSU graduate is a three-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2012, 2014, 2015) and was named WBCA Region 8 Coach of the Year in 2015.
Off the floor, Rueck’s teams have consistently excelled both in the classroom and in the community. The Beavers have earned 24 Pac-12 All-Academic individual honors over the last six seasons, including a program record seven in 2016. Senior Ruth Hamblin led the way, earning Academic All-America and Senior Class Award All-America recognition. The mechanical engineering major also received the Elite 90 Award as the player with the highest GPA at the Final Four.
A 1991 OSU graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science and a ’92 master’s degree recipient in physical education, Rueck has a career win-loss mark of 410-164. He spent 14 seasons at George Fox University and led the Bruins to seven NCAA Division III Tournament appearances and the 2009 National Championship.
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