Oregon State hires Scott Rueck to replace LaVonda Wagner

After a year of turmoil, including a mass exodus of players and the firing of the women’s basketball head coach, Oregon State hired Scott Rueck to replace LaVonda Wagner. Wagner, who was fired “without cause” on June 1 after reportedly cultivating a culture of fear and intimidation among players, had a $1.2 million contract with the university that the school has to honor. Seventeen players left the program during her five-year tenure.

The release from the school on Rueck’s hiring:

The Oregon State Athletics Department is proud to announce the hiring of accomplished collegiate coach Scott Rueck as the fifth head coach in the history of the women’s basketball program as announced Wednesday by Athletics Director Bob De Carolis.

Rueck comes to Oregon State after spending the past 14 seasons serving as the head women’s basketball coach at George Fox, compiling a career 288-88 (.766) record. Under his watch, the Bruins recorded winning seasons each year, winning the Division III National Championship in 2009. Rueck has led his squads to five “Sweet 16” appearances, three “Elite 8” contests, six NCAA Division III Tournament appearances and seven Northwest Conference Championships.

“Coach Rueck brings an impressive set of credentials to the position, including a NCAA national championship,” De Carolis said. “As a native Oregonian and Beaver alumnus, he has an extensive network of relationships that have been built over the years. He has earned the respect of the basketball community in the Northwest through hard work and integrity and we look forward to him leading our program.”

During his time as head coach, Rueck has coached four NAIA All-Americans, four NCAA All-Americans and 33 All-Northwest Conference honorees. Individually, he has been named the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year (2009), three-time NCAA Division III West Region Coach of the Year (2008, 2009, 2010) and six-time Northwest Conference Coach of the Year (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).

George Fox finished last season with a 28-3 overall record and a perfect 16-0 Northwest Conference mark. The Bruins advanced to the NCAA Division III Sectional Final but came up short against Washington-St. Louis to end their tournament run. The undefeated conference performance is only the third time in league history that a team had accomplished that feat, the second being during George Fox’s 2008-09 season.

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