Jeff Ruland
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
December 16, 1958 Bayshore, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
Sachem (Lake Ronkonkoma, New York) |
| College | Iona (1977–1980) |
| NBA draft | 1980 / Round: 2 / Pick: 25th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Playing career | 1980–1993 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 43, 50 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1980–1981 | FC Barcelona |
| 1981–1986 | Washington Bullets |
| 1986–1987, 1992 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1992–1993 | Detroit Pistons |
| As coach: | |
| 1998–2007 | Iona |
| 2007–2008 | Albuquerque Thunderbirds |
| 2009–2013 | University of the District of Columbia |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 5,763 (17.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,378 (10.2 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,002 (3.0 apg) |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Jeffrey Alan Ruland (born December 16, 1958) is a retired American basketball player and current coach. He is the former head coach of the Iona Gaels men's basketball team and the UDC Firebirds men's college basketball team.
A 6'11", 280 lb center, Ruland went from Sachem High School in Suffolk County, New York, to Iona College on a basketball scholarship and played for coach Jim Valvano before Valvano left for North Carolina State University. Ruland was the big gun on the Gaels' 1979–1980 team that beat eventual national champion Louisville 77-60 at Madison Square Garden during the regular season and compiled a 29-5 record en route to a number 19 national ranking, the best in the school's history. However, Jeff was found in violation of NCAA rules by hiring an agent, Paul Corvino, at International Management Inc. and was ruled ineligible to play his senior year at Iona.
Ruland was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 1980 NBA draft with the 25th overall pick. During the 1980–81 NBA season he instead opted to play professionally in Barcelona, Spain for a year before returning to the U.S. Prior to his rookie campaign, his draft rights were traded by the Warriors to the Washington Bullets, with whom he played for five seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. He retired after five games with them in 1986 after a nagging knee injury.
Joining the Bullets for the 1981–82 NBA season, Ruland played behind 32-year-old Spencer Haywood but clearly outplayed the longtime star in the same number of minutes. Seeing time at both forward and center, Ruland showed muscle at both ends of the floor and an accurate jumpshot good from as far as 20 feet. A 56% shooter from the floor, Ruland rated among the NBA shooting leaders. His 14 points and nine rebounds a game off the bench signaled he was ready for more minutes. The Bullets made the second round of the playoffs before losing to the Boston Celtics. Ruland averaged 17 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
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