Gamblers Coach Rud Advances to College Hockey

Press Release

The Green Bay Gamblers announced that Head Coach Eric Rud has accepted a coaching position on the hockey staff at Colorado College.

Rud came to the Gamblers prior to the 2010-11 season and immediately had an impact as he guided the club to a 41-15-4 record (86 points). It was the second best record in the USHL and equaled the second most wins in Gamblers history. The Gamblers also reached the Clark Cup Final series, falling to the Dubuque Fighting Saints in a thrilling four-game series.

The move to Colorado College marks a return to the school for Rud. He served in the role of assistant coach for the Tigers during the 2004-05 season, helping them to a share of the WCHA title and a berth in the 2005 NCAA Frozen Four. Rud also enjoyed a four-year playing career at Colorado College. He earned honors as the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and earned all-league honors in his final two seasons at CC. He helped lead the Tigers to the Frozen Four as a junior and senior - including an appearance in the NCAA championship game in 1996. Rud appeared in 168 consecutive games as the Tigers won WCHA regular season titles in 1994, 1995, and 1996 and posted a 111-43-14 record during his collegiate career.

Joining the staff at Colorado College also reunites him with Tigers head coach Scott Owens, who was on the staff during Rud’s playing and coaching days at the school. Owens spent eight seasons as a head coach in the USHL (Des Moines Buccaneers 1995-99, Madison Capitols 1986-90), winning 261 games and capturing the Clark Cup with the Des Moines Buccaneers during the 1998-99 season as the team won a USHL record 48 games.

This past season was not the first for Rud in the USHL as he had prior experience as both a coach and as a player. He served as assistant coach for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders for two seasons (2002-04) and was responsible for recruiting several players who were part of the RoughRiders team that captured the Clark Cup during the 2004-05 season.

The native of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota played two seasons (1991-93) in the USHL for the Des Moines Buccaneers. The defenseman tallied 81 points (21g, 60a) in 96 regular season games. Rud was named both the USHL Player of the Year and USHL Defenseman of the Year following the 1992-93 season and was also a part of the Bucs team that won the Clark Cup during the 1991-92 campaign.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)