The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Rucker joins football staff
01.10.2005 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- A veteran of 26 seasons as a collegiate assistant coach, including 18 tutoring running backs, seven in the state of Texas and 10 in the Southwest, Ken Rucker has been named an assistant coach at The University of Texas, Mack Brown announced on Monday. Rucker will coach the Longhorn running backs, replacing Mike Haywood, who after two seasons at UT was named offensive coordinator at Notre Dame last week. Rucker has been a part of staffs that have made 10 bowl game appearances, including a Georgia program that has posted Top 10 finishes the past two years.
"We're really excited that we were able to add a quality veteran coach like Ken to our staff," Brown said. "Ken is a high energy coach with tremendous character who also is a great recruiter that has spent a lot of time recruiting in Texas. He has coached on both sides of the ball, has had success at the highest levels and really understands the intensity of working at a place like ours. I've tried to hire him a couple of times before and am excited that it worked out this time."
Rucker joins the Longhorn staff after spending the past two seasons as running backs coach at Georgia. He helped the Bulldogs post a 21-5 record and back-to-back No. 7 finishes in 2003-04. In 2004, he directed a pair of freshman backs (Thomas Brown and Danny Ware) that combined to produce 1,567 rushing yards and 12 TDs to help Georgia to a 10-2 record. Prior to his two-year stint at Georgia, Rucker spent two years coaching running backs at Texas A&M.
"I'm excited and honored to have the opportunity to join the Texas staff," Rucker said. "I have always had great respect and admiration for Coach Brown and The University of Texas. I'm leaving a fine program at Georgia where the administration, players and coaches have been great to me to go to a place that I personally believe is the chance of a lifetime. I feel like Texas is the kind of program that any coach would dream of being a part of. I can't wait to get started."
In addition to coaching at Texas A&M in 2001-02, Rucker also worked as running backs coach on R.C. Slocum's Aggie staff from 1994-1997. Between his two stops at Texas A&M, Rucker was a part of Carl Torbush's (Brown's successor with the Tar Heels) staff at North Carolina as special teams coordinator/linebackers coach for three seasons (1998-2000).
Prior to joining the Texas A&M staff the first time in 1994, Rucker served as assistant head coach/running backs coach at Baylor (1993) and running backs coach at Arkansas (1990-92). From 1984-89, Rucker worked as running backs coach for the United States Air Force Academy and helped the Falcons to three bowl berths, one of which was a 1985 Bluebonnet Bowl victory (24-16) over Texas. Air Force finished that year ranked No. 5 nationally, the Falcons top all-time final ranking.
Rucker began his coaching career on defense, serving as a defensive coordinator at James Cawood H.S. (Harlan, Ky.) in 1976 and then from 1977-78 was defensive coordinator at David Crockett H.S. (Jonesborough, Tenn.). From 1979-81, he coached the defensive line at Appalachian State and then was outside linebacker coach at the University of Richmond from 1982-83.
A native of Morristown, Tenn., Rucker earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Carson-Newman College in 1976. A standout defensive player for the Eagles, he was named the Most Valuable Player in 1976, All-Conference as a linebacker in 1975 and Most Valuable Defensive Lineman in 1974.
Since 2000, Rucker has served as an ex officio member of the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) Board of Trustees and is chairman of the Assistant Coaches Committee of the AFCA. The board formulates policy and provides direction for the AFCA, which includes more than 8,000 members from all levels of the profession.
Rucker and his wife, Nancy, have one daughter, Kenny Lynnette.
THE RUCKER FILE
Hometown: Morristown, Tenn.
High school: Morristown East HS
College: Carson-Newman 1976
Years in coaching: 26
Wife: Nancy
Children: Kenny Lynnette
Coaching Assignments
2005, Assistant Coach/Running Backs, Texas
2003-04, Assistant Coach/Running Backs, Georgia
2001-02, Assistant Coach/Running Backs, Texas A&M
1998-2000, Special Teams Coord./Linebackers, North Carolina
1994-97, Assistant Coach/ Running Backs, Texas A&M
1993, Assistant Coach/ Running Backs, Baylor
1990-92, Assistant Coach/ Running Backs, Arkansas
1984-89, Assistant Coach/Running Backs, Air Force
1982-83, Assistant Coach/Defensive Ends, Richmond
1979-81, Assistant Coach/Defensive Line, Appalachian State
1977-78, Defensive Coordinator, David Crockett (Tenn.) H.S.
1976, Defensive Coordinator, James Cawood (Ky.) H.S.
College Bowl Experience
2005 Outback Bowl, Georgia
2004 Capital One Bowl, Georgia
2001 Gallery Furniture.com Bowl, Texas A&M
1998 Las Vegas Bowl, North Carolina
1997 Cotton Bowl, Texas A&M
1995 Alamo Bowl, Texas A&M
1991 Independence Bowl, Arkansas
1989 Liberty Bowl, Air Force
1987 Freedom Bowl, Air Force
1985 Bluebonnet Bowl, Air Force
