Former Ursinus Coach was AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. --- Chris Rusiewicz,
former associate head coach at NCAA Division III Ursinus College,
was introduced as Guilford College’s new head football coach
Wednesday, Jan. 5. The Quakers’ 22nd head football coach in
104 recorded seasons, he succeeds Kevin Kiesel, who compiled a
24-36 overall record in six campaigns.
Rusiewicz, 33, served the past four seasons as associate head
coach at Ursinus, a highly selective liberal arts college with
1,750 students in Collegeville, Pa. He received the 2010 American
Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) Division III Assistant
Coach of the Year Award in November. The annual prize honors
coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the
student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional
organization involvement.
Rusiewicz joined Peter Gallagher’s Ursinus staff in 2001 as
a secondary coach, became the Bears’ defensive coordinator in
2003 and was named special teams coach in 2008. The team ranked
23rd or higher among NCAA Division III total defense leaders in
three of the past four years. The Bears boasted the nation’s
12th-rated rushing defense in 2010.
He guided 11 Ursinus defenders or specialists to 14 First Team
All-Centennial Conference honors in 10 seasons, including defensive
back Mike Dale, a 2001 third-team All-American. Four Bears
defenders received D3football.com All-South Region recognition,
including two-time selection Chris Rountree, the 2009 Eastern
College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Southwest Rookie of
the Year.
Ursinus has had four winning seasons and four top-three conference
finishes in the past five years. Last fall, the Bears posted an 8-2
overall record and went 7-2 in the Centennial, their best league
mark since 1996. Ursinus shared the 2010 Centennial title and made
postseason appearances in the 2006 and 2009 ECAC playoffs.
In addition to his coaching accomplishments, Rusiewicz made
significant contributions to the greater Ursinus community. He
implemented a Christmas program that raises approximately $1,500
for the benefit of three local families. In conjunction with the
National Marrow Donor Program and Temple University Hospital in
Philadelphia, Rusiewicz coordinated an effort to recruit bone
marrow donors. He also participated in service projects with Big
Brothers and Habitat for Humanity that contributed to the football
team’s over 600 volunteer hours in 2009-10. He also developed
and implemented a series of off-field programs designed to benefit
students’ academic progress and leadership abilities.
After playing at Quakertown (Pa.) High School, Rusiewicz started
his college career at Shippensburg (Pa.) University where he
lettered as a reserve running back for the NCAA Division II Red
Raiders. He graduated with a degree in sport management from
DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa., in 2001. Rusiewicz
entered the coaching ranks as founder, general manager and
offensive coordinator of the semi-professional Eastern Pennsylvania
Scorpions from 1997-2004. He spent four years as the Physical
Director of the Spring Valley YMCA.
A native of Perkasie, Pa., Rusiewicz and his wife, Tara, have two
daughters, Brooke (3) and Natalie (1). The couple is expecting its
third child in May.
Pronunciation Guide: Rusiewicz (ruh-SEV-itch),
Ursinus (ur-SIGH-niss), Kiesel (KEE-sul)
This release is courtesy of the Guilford College sports information department.