Tim Rucks


Tim Rucks was an American football player and coach.

Early life

Rucks was born on December 21, 1960 in Waukegan, Illinois, graduating from Waukegan West High School in 1979.

College career

Rucks played for the Carthage Red Men under coach Art Keller. A first-team College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin player in his senior year, Rucks graduated in 1983.

Professional career

Rucks was drafted by the Denver Gold in the fourteenth round of the inaugural United States Football League Draft in 1983. However, he decided to forego the USFL, instead signing a free agent contract with the National Football League's New York Jets on May 5 of that year. Only three months later, Rucks was released by the Jets on August 12.

Semi-professional career

In 1984, Rucks played for the Racine Gladiators, being named to the all-league and all minor-league teams, and in 1985 for the Chicago Chargers. Inducted into the American Football Association Semi-Pro Hall of Fame in 2002, Rucks would later serve on the Gladiators' Board of Directors.

Coaching career

High school

Rucks would go on to be an assistant coach from 1986 until 1988 at Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois.

North Park

Rucks was the head football coach at North Park University in Chicago. Having started as an assistant coach in 1989, Rucks was promoted to head coach in 1990, becoming the NCAA's youngest head football coach at 29. Ruck served as head coach for five seasons, until 1994, compiling a record of 9–33–3.

Carthage

After North Park, Rucks became the head coach for the Carthage Red Men located in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Before Rucks took over, the Red Men had not had a single winning season in their previous 13 years. Rucks quickly turned the team's fortunes around, accomplishing winning records in three of their first four seasons. In 2004, Rucks led the Red Men to their first Division III football playoff in 2004, advancing all the way to the quarterfinals. For that he was named the Coach of the Year for the CCIW and the Division III North Region.
In 2009, Rucks was named Wisconsin Private College Football Coach of the Year.
Rucks held that position until he stepped down following the 2012 season. His coaching record at Carthage was 95 wins, 79 losses and 1 tie. As of the conclusion of the 2015 season, Rucks ranks #2 at Carthage in total wins. He also ranks 3rd at the school in winning percentage for coaches with at least 30 games coached.

Post-retirement

After retiring as the coach, Rucks remained with Carthage as an assistant athletic director and academic advisor.
In 2014, Rucks was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Death

On March 10, 2015, Rucks was found unconscious in his car, which had been in a one-car accident in Kenosha. Emergency crews were unable to resuscitate him. His death was ruled a heart attack.

Head coaching record

Football