DusterDad
03-21-2006, 07:35 PM
I heard that the Laverne boys basketball coach stepped down today. Something about wanting to spend more time with family. I don't have any links to follow up the story so if anybody else does please post them here.
This is big news here in the Northwest area. Rusty Rundle has had great success in taking the Tigers to many state tournaments over the past 12 years. His career at Laverne is highlighted by winning a class 2-A state title back in '97(I think). Without a doubt, big shoes to fill.
Many moves going on in Laverne. 8 man football, building a new track, and now losing a formidable basketball coach.
PawneeSports
03-21-2006, 09:18 PM
http://www.laverne.k12.ok.us/lhs/images/russ.jpg
(A picture of Russ Rundle)
A graduate of Forgan High School.
A graduate of Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Rundle also coached at Goodwell and Cheyenne.
PawneeSports
03-23-2006, 02:26 PM
http://static.cnhi.zope.net/sites/woodwardnews/images/header.jpg
Laverne’s basketball coach steps down
Published: March 22, 2006 08:26 am
LAVERNE - Following a 16year tenure as boys basketball coach at Laverne High School, Russ Rundle has decided to hang up his whistle.
“I am just an ole’ has been,” Rundle said jokingly.
Rundle began his coaching career 21 years ago in Goodwell, where he worked for three years, he then moved on to Cheyenne for a two-year stint and then found a home in Laverne where he has roamed the sidelines for the past 16 seasons.
In those years at Laverne, he has led his teams to nine state playoff appearances, one runner-up in 2001 and a state title in 1997. Rundle’s career record is 437 wins to 123 losses.
Rundle said he felt it was the right time for him to stop coaching at the high school level.
“To me it is the right time. I do not know if everybody agrees with me and the decision I have made, but hopefully they will respect it,” he said. “I think it is the best thing for my family, for me and for the kids.”
Rundle said coaches should in the job for the kids and if they were not then they should get out.
“I still feel that I was coaching for the kids, but I really felt it was the right time for me to step away,” Rundle said.
Rundle said the program is bigger than any one person and the tradition at Laverne will carry on.
“I have been apart of that tradition for a long time and I will continue to watch that tradition,” he said.
Rundle said he feels good about who the school board will select as his predecessor.
“They will choose someone who will fit in right and do a good job. There are a lot of qualified coaches out there and Laverne will get a good one,” Rundle said.
According to Rundle, all of his assistant coaches will stay on board to work with the new coach. He also said he has a lot of confidence in the kids to continue the tradition that Laverne basketball has built.
Rundle said one of his favorite times is when a graduate comes back to say hello or visit with him and the team.
“I think that means the most to me. To see the kids who I have coached in the past,” he said.
The coach admitted the hardest thing about stepping down was telling the kids that are returning to the team next year.
“That was tough to do,” he said. “But hopefully I can still be apart of it all, but just behind the scenes. I am going to take a back seat and take in the tradition with out taking somebody else’s spotlight.”
When asked if he was going to appear on some other sideline in a couple of years, Rundle said he does not fly by the seat of his pants.
“When I made this life decision, I really believe is was a permanent decision. I can’t see into the future, but I do not see myself coaching at the high school level at any other place in the future,” Rundle said. “I have thought about this for a while now. It is not like I just woke up one morning and decided to step down. I have known about this for a while and in my heart I know it is the right thing for me to do.”
Rundle said he will coach basketball at the grade school level and that will give him time to still be involved in other things.
He said he would like to thank the school board, who took a chance with him so many years ago when he was just starting his coaching career and also wants to thank the current administration for their support.
“I also want to thank the community for all of their support over the years. Also to all the kids that I had the pleasure to coach over the past 16 seasons. You have all made me proud,” Rundle said.