Ad Rutschman (born October 30, 1931) is known as one of the greatest coaches in small college history. During his 25-year career at Linfield College (now University), he became the first coach to win NAIA championships in more than one sport (football and baseball). He had already matched that feat coaching in the Oregon high school ranks at Hillsboro.
Ad grew up in Hillsboro and starred as a running back for the Spartans football team, then attended Linfield. The NFL beckoned but he chose the path of teacher and coach and began his career at Hill-Hi in 1954.
Rutschman’s baseball teams won three state championships, his football team, one. In his thirteen years he also grew the Little League baseball program to prominence.
Then his alma mater beckoned, and Ad returned to Linfield in 1968, first as football coach, later adding baseball duties and ultimately, athletic director. All three jobs overlapped at times.
The most notable part of his career was head coach of Wildcat football. 24 consecutive winning seasons, including three national championships (1982, 1984, 1986). His career record was 183-48-3 and he was repeatedly honored as “Slats: Gill Man of the Year and Regional Football Coach of the Year.
Rutschman pulled double duty as the Cats baseball coach from thirteen seasons in the ‘70s and ‘80s and won that national title in his very first season, 1971.
Ad Rutschman also served as Athletic Director for 25 years. He is responsible for spearheading the construction of the current gymnasium, swimming pool, fieldhouse and baseball facilities as well as the modernization of historic Maxwell Stadium
In retirement, Ad continued to support Linfield athletics as an assistant football coach. Through the years he has enjoyed the baseball exploits of sons Don, Ross and Randy, not to mention grandson Adley, the number one pick in the 2019 baseball amateur draft.
Ad Rutschman is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame and the Linfield Hall of Fame.