Pat Ruel
Encyclopedia
Golden Pat Ruel is an offensive line coach
for the Seattle Seahawks
of the National Football League
.
and National Football League
coaching experience.
He lettered
at offensive guard for University of Miami
under head coach Fran Curci
and received his B.S.
in psychology
in 1972 where he immediately became a graduate assistant coach in 1973. He and USC Head Coach Pete Carroll
were both graduate assistants on the 1977 Arkansas Razorbacks
football team. Current Mississippi Head Coach Houston Nutt
was also at Arkansas at the same time, as a backup quarterback. Arkansas' Defensive Coordinator at the time, Monte Kiffin
, would be a mentor to Carroll who would later have his son Lane Kiffin
as his offensive coordinator
at USC. The Razorbacks won the 1978 Orange Bowl that season and Ruel would move on to a full-time position at Washington State University
. He spent four years with the Cougars, the first 2 seasons as the offensive line coach before adding offensive coordinator duties for his final two seasons.
Ruel's longest tenure was at Kansas
from 1988–96, the first 3 as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, then adding assistant head coach to his title the final 6 years. During his first summer Lawrence
, he joined the coaches and 50 or so scholarship players in sleeping on the practice field for solidarity. During his time at Kansas, the Jayhawks improved from 1-10 in 1988 to 10-2 in 1995, finishing in the top 10.
Ruel spent 1997 in private business, then moved on to Michigan State
for 2 years (1998–99). The first year with the Spartans he served as offensive line coach and then adding assistant head coach duties in the second season. He was hired by the NFL's Detroit Lions
in 2000 to take over as offensive line coach. He spent the next 2 seasons (2001–02) as the assistant offensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers
. In 2003 he took over offensive line coach duties for the Buffalo Bills
before moving the New York Giants for the 2004 season.
Ruel joined the Trojans in February 2005. Carroll lured Ruel away from the NFL's New York Giants
, taking him to lunch on a sunny day in Manhattan Beach
. Ruel found Carroll to be charming, noting "Pete's like a beautiful woman. The closer you get, you better look out. He is very charismatic. He can smile and make you feel like a million dollars." His players at USC included Sam Baker, Winston Justice
, Ryan Kalil
, Deuce Lutui, Fred Matua
, Chilo Rachal
, Drew Radovich
, Matt Spanos
and Kyle Williams
. After Pete Carroll signed with the Seahawks, Ruel was released from USC on January 20, 2010 and joined the Seahawks five months later after Alex Gibbs sudden retirement.
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Career
Ruel has 35 years of collegeCollege 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 National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
coaching experience.
He lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
at offensive guard for University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
under head coach Fran Curci
Fran Curci
Fran Curci is a former American football player and coach. He was an All-American quarterback at the University of Miami in 1959...
and received his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in 1972 where he immediately became a graduate assistant coach in 1973. He and USC Head Coach Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
were both graduate assistants on the 1977 Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
football team. Current Mississippi Head Coach Houston Nutt
Houston Nutt
Houston Dale Nutt, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. Most recently he was the head football coach at the University of Mississippi from 2008 to 2011. Previously, he served as the head coach at Murray State University , Boise State University , and the University of Arkansas...
was also at Arkansas at the same time, as a backup quarterback. Arkansas' Defensive Coordinator at the time, Monte Kiffin
Monte Kiffin
Monte Kiffin is an American football coach. He is widely considered to be one of the preeminent defensive coordinators in modern football, as well as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history...
, would be a mentor to Carroll who would later have his son Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin
Lane Monte Kiffin is the current head coach of the University of Southern California Trojans college football team. He was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers college football team, the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, and the offensive coordinator for the Trojans...
as his offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
at USC. The Razorbacks won the 1978 Orange Bowl that season and Ruel would move on to a full-time position at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
. He spent four years with the Cougars, the first 2 seasons as the offensive line coach before adding offensive coordinator duties for his final two seasons.
Ruel's longest tenure was at Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
from 1988–96, the first 3 as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, then adding assistant head coach to his title the final 6 years. During his first summer Lawrence
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, he joined the coaches and 50 or so scholarship players in sleeping on the practice field for solidarity. During his time at Kansas, the Jayhawks improved from 1-10 in 1988 to 10-2 in 1995, finishing in the top 10.
Ruel spent 1997 in private business, then moved on to Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
for 2 years (1998–99). The first year with the Spartans he served as offensive line coach and then adding assistant head coach duties in the second season. He was hired by 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...
in 2000 to take over as offensive line coach. He spent the next 2 seasons (2001–02) as the assistant offensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. In 2003 he took over offensive line coach duties for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
before moving the New York Giants for the 2004 season.
Ruel joined the Trojans in February 2005. Carroll lured Ruel away from the NFL's New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, taking him to lunch on a sunny day in Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
. Ruel found Carroll to be charming, noting "Pete's like a beautiful woman. The closer you get, you better look out. He is very charismatic. He can smile and make you feel like a million dollars." His players at USC included Sam Baker, Winston Justice
Winston Justice
Winston Frederick Justice is an American football offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, Ryan Kalil
Ryan Kalil
Ryan Kalil is an American football offensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Drafted by Carolina in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, Kalil played college football at the University of Southern California...
, Deuce Lutui, Fred Matua
Fred Matua
Fred Matua is an American football guard that is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, Chilo Rachal
Chilo Rachal
-San Francisco 49ers:Rachal was signed to a four-year deal.Rachal started the last 6 games of the 2008 season, then started 15 of 16 games in 2009. Rachal started 14 of 15 games played in 2010.-External links:**...
, Drew Radovich
Drew Radovich
Drew Radovich is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Southern California....
, Matt Spanos
Matt Spanos
Matt Spanos is an Canadian and American football guard for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League...
and Kyle Williams
Kyle Williams (offensive tackle)
Kyle A. Williams is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Southern California....
. After Pete Carroll signed with the Seahawks, Ruel was released from USC on January 20, 2010 and joined the Seahawks five months later after Alex Gibbs sudden retirement.