Army hosting Crowell Open at Gillis Field House, Friday and Saturday.
Rondell Ruff enters his first season with the Army track and field team in 2011-12. Head coach Troy Engle announced the hiring of the Black Knights' new sprint coach in August.
Ruff comes to West Point from Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa., where he coached the jumps, sprints and relays as a graduate assistant since August of 2009. Under his tutelage the Red Flash boasted multiple student-athletes who competed in the postseason after achieving ECAC and IC4A Championship-qualifying marks.
The Saint Francis women's indoor and outdoor track and field teams made strides at the Northeast Conference Championships under Ruff in 2011, earning their best finish at the indoor meet since 2005 and best outdoor place since 2003.
Ruff, a 2006 graduate of the University of Michigan, captained the Wolverines' cross country and track teams in 2005-06. Originally a walk-on to the programs, the Detroit native went on to win a pair of Big Ten indoor distance medley relay titles (2002, 2005) before capturing the 2005 NCAA Indoor National Championship trophy in the event.
After earning his degree in general studies, Ruff returned to his alma mater to serve as a volunteer assistant coach with the track and cross country teams. He also coached three summers at Michigan's track and field camp.
"After an extensive national search, we felt Rondell would be a great fit at West Point," said Army head coach Troy Engle. "We expect him to generate a high level of enthusiasm among recruits given the energetic coaching style he brings in.
"He really put Saint Francis on the map after only two seasons and certainly has the capability to improve an area on our team that requires some special attention. He's not afraid of hard work, as evidenced by not only his athletic career at Michigan but his accomplishments at Saint Francis. We'll need that hard-nosed attitude to improve our sprinting corps with the cadet-athletes we have now and those we will bring in down the road."
