WACO, Texas – Baylor’s Chris Ruf, Director of Athletic Performance, was named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa) recently.
The honor is the highest given in the strength and conditioning coaching profession, and Ruf was recognized during a ceremony Thursday night at the association's national conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
Ruf has been at Baylor since January 2008 and besides serving as the director of athletic performance for football he works with BU’s track and field teams.
Prior to Baylor, Ruf served as an Assistant Strength Coach at South Florida (USF). While at USF, Ruf also worked at Rich Lansky's OPTI as a strength coach and assisted with Team Florida Gulf Coast Weightlifting. Prior to USF, Ruf spent eight seasons at Iowa State University as an Assistant Strength Coach with their football program. During that time, ISU went to five bowl games and won the first two bowl games in school history.
Ruf received Bachelor's degrees in health and physical education with an athletic training minor from Luther College where he played football. He received his Master's in exercise science from Iowa State in 2003. Ruf is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, and USA Weightlifting.
In order to receive this certification and corresponding title of distinction, an individual must first meet the following criteria:
1) Hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree
2) Be a currently practicing, full-time strength & conditioning coach on the collegiate or professional level
3) Hold current membership in the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa)
4) Hold the CSCCa Certification – SCCC (Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified)
5) Have a minimum of 12 years experience as a full-time strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate and/or professional level
Thirty-one collegiate strength & conditioning coaches received the prestigious certification of Master Strength & Conditioning Coach at the 2016 MSCC Ceremony: Russell Barbarino (University of Michigan); Angie Brambley-Moyer (Princeton University); Scott Brincks (University of Tennessee - Chattanooga); Keith Caton, Jr., (Indiana University); Rick Court (University of Maryland); Dr. Tredell Dorsey (Georgia Southern University); Charles Dudley, Jr. (University of Texas - San Antonio); Matthew Eck (University of Nevada - Reno); Joshua Eidson (University of Illinois); Monty Gibson (Texas A&M University); Steve Gortmaker (University of South Florida); Paul Helsel, III, (Colgate University); Matt Herring (University of Missouri); Ben Hilgart (Virginia Tech University); Victor Ishmael (University of Miami); Je'Ney Jackson (University of Kansas); Bob Medina (Brigham Young University); Jeff Oliver (College of the Holy Cross); Steve Orris (Nova Southeastern University); Tim Overman (University of Oklahoma); Brad Pantall (The Pennsylvania State University); Matt Parker (Texas Christian University); Jason Phillips (Colorado State University); Sarah Ramey (West Texas A&M University); Travis Reust (University of Texas – San Antonio); Dave Richardson (The Ohio State University); Whitney Rodden (MidAmerica Nazarene University); Chris Ruf (Baylor University); Jon Sanderson (University of Michigan); Sonny Sano (Ohio University); and LaVell Williams (Jackson State University). These 31 coaches will join the existing 156 Master Strength & Conditioning Coaches, bringing the total number of MSCC's to 187.
