Doug Ruse Hired as New Georgia Southern Tight Ends Coach
2/13/2020 2:47:00 PM | Football
Veteran option coach returns to Statesboro for second stint
STATESBORO - Georgia Southern head football coach Chad Lunsford announced Thursday the hiring of Doug Ruse as the program's new tight ends coach for the Eagles in the Bob DeBesse offense. Ruse returns for his second stint on the coaching staff at Georgia Southern after recent stints at Arkansas Tech and Tulane.
"Coach Doug Ruse brings a lot of experience in our option offense and also the important understanding of the Georgia Southern football program," Lunsford said. "We are excited to be able to bring him back to Georgia Southern as our tight ends coach. Coach DeBesse, the offensive staff and myself were a part of this hiring process and we were able to hire a person with not only great character and a great coaching background, but also someone who is a great fit within Coach DeBesse's offensive scheme. I know he'll hit the ground running and will be up to speed with our offense, our staff and our tight ends in no time at all. I can't wait for him to get back to the 'Boro and GATA!"
In 2019, Ruse was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas Tech. Under his tutelage, receiver Drew Wade earned all-conference honors after hauling in 46 passes for 623 yards and four scores. At Tulane, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for three seasons, helping guide the Green Wave to a bowl game in 2018.
Ruse came to Statesboro in 2014 after serving for the previous two seasons at Sam Houston State as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the same position he filled at Georgia Southern. In two years in Statesboro, Ruse's offense averaged 37.7 points per game and led the FBS in rushing both seasons. In his debut season with the Eagles, Georgia Southern won the Sun Belt title with an 8-0 record and the Eagles won their first bowl game in 2015, the GoDaddy Bowl.
In 2014, Ruse had three first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honorees in Matt Breida (RB), Manrey Saint-Amour (OL) and Garrett Frye (OL), along with second-team honoree Kevin Ellison (QB). In 2015, Breida was again named first-team all-conference after leading the nation yards in yards per carry, as was offensive lineman Darien Foreman. Breida has since gone on to the NFL and played in Super Bowl LIV with the San Francisco 49ers.
"We're super excited and very grateful to Coach Lunsford for the opportunity to return to Georgia Southern and work with this fantastic staff," Ruse said. "Of all my years in coaching, the two years spent in Statesboro were the most enjoyable of my career. My wife and I are anxious to return to Statesboro and reconnect with the best fans in the country. Hail Southern!"
Ruse also coached at Sam Houston State, helping lead the Bearkats to the 2012 NCAA FCS championship game. Prior to joining the Bearkat staff, Ruse worked as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Western Illinois and also has spent time at Arkansas State, Northwestern State and Northwest Missouri State.
Ruse replaces Andrew Dodge on the staff, who left the program in January.
"Coach Doug Ruse brings a lot of experience in our option offense and also the important understanding of the Georgia Southern football program," Lunsford said. "We are excited to be able to bring him back to Georgia Southern as our tight ends coach. Coach DeBesse, the offensive staff and myself were a part of this hiring process and we were able to hire a person with not only great character and a great coaching background, but also someone who is a great fit within Coach DeBesse's offensive scheme. I know he'll hit the ground running and will be up to speed with our offense, our staff and our tight ends in no time at all. I can't wait for him to get back to the 'Boro and GATA!"
In 2019, Ruse was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas Tech. Under his tutelage, receiver Drew Wade earned all-conference honors after hauling in 46 passes for 623 yards and four scores. At Tulane, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for three seasons, helping guide the Green Wave to a bowl game in 2018.
Ruse came to Statesboro in 2014 after serving for the previous two seasons at Sam Houston State as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the same position he filled at Georgia Southern. In two years in Statesboro, Ruse's offense averaged 37.7 points per game and led the FBS in rushing both seasons. In his debut season with the Eagles, Georgia Southern won the Sun Belt title with an 8-0 record and the Eagles won their first bowl game in 2015, the GoDaddy Bowl.
In 2014, Ruse had three first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honorees in Matt Breida (RB), Manrey Saint-Amour (OL) and Garrett Frye (OL), along with second-team honoree Kevin Ellison (QB). In 2015, Breida was again named first-team all-conference after leading the nation yards in yards per carry, as was offensive lineman Darien Foreman. Breida has since gone on to the NFL and played in Super Bowl LIV with the San Francisco 49ers.
"We're super excited and very grateful to Coach Lunsford for the opportunity to return to Georgia Southern and work with this fantastic staff," Ruse said. "Of all my years in coaching, the two years spent in Statesboro were the most enjoyable of my career. My wife and I are anxious to return to Statesboro and reconnect with the best fans in the country. Hail Southern!"
Ruse also coached at Sam Houston State, helping lead the Bearkats to the 2012 NCAA FCS championship game. Prior to joining the Bearkat staff, Ruse worked as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Western Illinois and also has spent time at Arkansas State, Northwestern State and Northwest Missouri State.
Ruse replaces Andrew Dodge on the staff, who left the program in January.
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