Ruland

Former Washington Bullet Jeff Ruland, whose play led Iona to two NCAA tournaments in the late 1970s and early 1980s, yesterday returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach.Tim Welsh, who was promoted to head coach last month after his father Jerry retired for medical reasons, announced Ruland's hiring.As a freshman, the 6-foot-10 Ruland led his class nationally in scoring and rebounding at 22.3 and 12.8, respectively. He was assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1993-94.

Beth Ruland wanted to help after one of her favorite employees at Squisito's Italian Restaurant in Annapolis was robbed in 2005. The man, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador, had not reported being accosted and stripped of his cash on a footbridge near Hilltop Lane. Too many Hispanics had been targeted in robberies in his neighborhood, Ruland said. "He was so scared," she said. "I just said to him, `If someone actually stands up, this kind of stuff will stop.'" Ruland, who guided her employee through the police and court processes, is one of four people who will be honored today by the state's attorney's office for their support of victims of crime.

The expectations on Jeff Ruland going into his first season as Iona's head coach were not unlike the ones he faced nearly 20 years ago as the team's star player.In other words, they were as enormous as 6-foot-11 Ruland himself.``It's a little tougher [as a coach], because no matter how well we practice or how focused we are, it's out of your hands when the team's on the court,'' Ruland said last week.It's been a difficult start for Ruland, the former All-American and NBA All-Star who took over after three seasons as an assistant when Tim Welsh left last spring for Providence.

Four Anne Arundel County wrestlers will be among the contenders when the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference tournament takes place this weekend at Mount St. Joseph. Lou Ruland of St. Mary's, who was a conference tournament runner-up last year, will be one of the favorites in the 125-pound class. Chris Laidley of Archbishop Spalding and Adam Palumbo of Annapolis Area Christian School will vie in the tough 119-pound division, and Pat McMahon, a teammate of Palumbo's at AACS, is primed for the 130-pound event.

The expectations on Jeff Ruland going into his first season as Iona's head coach were not unlike the ones he faced nearly 20 years ago as the team's star player.In other words, they were as enormous as 6-foot-11 Ruland himself."It's a little tougher [as a coach], because no matter how well we practice or how focused we are, it's out of your hands when the team's on the court," Ruland said last week.It's been a difficult start for Ruland, the former All-American and NBA All-Star who took over after three seasons as an assistant when Tim Welsh left last spring for Providence.

PHILADELPHIA -- Lock the doors. Pull down the shades. Secure the area.That's what has been happening recently at Holy Family College, where former Philadelphia 76ers center Jeff Ruland has escalated his workouts, trying to determine whether he can come back.The 6-foot-10 Ruland, who will turn 33 Dec. 16, hasn't played since 1986-87, when he lasted five games before being forced into retirement by an injury to his left knee. Before that, he spent five competitive seasons with Washington and appeared in the 1984 All-Star Game.

Larry Bird, at 35 the only player among the NBA's top 20 inscoring, rebounds and assists, was placed on the injured list by the Boston Celtics last night because of a persistent back problem.Dave Gavitt, the Celtics' basketball operations chief, said that doctors had recommended rest and anti-inflammatory medication for Bird, and no timetable has been set for the 13-year veteran's return.Gavitt said tests confirmed the earlier belief that Bird has inflammation resulting from a fall or falls.

Is Jeff Ruland in charge of the Iona basketball team, or is it "Coach McNasty"? In his second season with the Gaels, Ruland has guided his alma mater back to the NCAA tournament with the same no-nonsense style of his Washington Bullets days. The Long Island native likens himself more to the mob boss in the HBO series, "The Sopranos," than John Wooden. Looking down at every one of his players, the 6-foot-10, 295-pound Ruland orders each one to follow two off-court rules -- go to school and be on time -- or he'll kick them off the team despite joking that he majored in cutting class and minored in bar-hopping as a student.

In all, there were three generations of Ruland wrestlers in the family room one night over the Christmas holiday, all eyes on the television as they analyzed matches. St. Mary's junior Lou Ruland and his grandfather, father and some uncles were dissecting the recent work of the state's top-ranked 119-pound competitor. "We tape the matches and go over them to find any mistakes we see, or good things," said Ruland's father, Lou Jr. There were plenty of good things. As for mistakes? Keep looking.

Every new day Jeff Ruland wakes up without a throbbing pain in his left knee and plays another game for the Philadelphia 76ers, he says to himself, "I'm a medical marvel. . . . I can't believe I'm playing again."There have been a number of amazing comebacks in sports in the past decade. Baseball pitcher Tommy John, heavyweight boxer George Foreman and Washington Bullets forward Bernard King coming to mind. But none was more improbable than Ruland's, the 6-foot-11 center who rejoined the 76ers earlier this month after eroding knee cartilage had forced him to retire only five games into the 1986-87 season.

On October 4, 2005, DON R., beloved husband of Donna A. Ward (nee Panzer); devoted father of Darryl R. Ward and wife Lynne, and Lisa A. Sefcik and husband Tom; devoted brother of Linda Baumgarn and husband George; devoted grandfather of Carly Sefick and Nicholas Ward; also survived by 15 nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at the E.F. Lassahn Funeral Home, P.A., 11750 Bel Air Rd (Kingsville) on Friday at 10 A.M. Interment Parkwood Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 7 to 9 P.M. and Thursday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Ruland)

On Saturday, October 1, 2005, JANIS MARGARET; beloved wife of Ron V. Wiedenhoeft; loving mother of Ronald Keith Wiendenhoeft and Bernadette Dilonardo; sister of Lois Bolfar, Phyllis Berke, Kathleen Klein. Also survived by eight grandchildren. Friends may call on Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. at the Stallings Funeral Home, P.A., 3111 Mountain Road, Pasadena, MD. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2005 at 10 A.M. in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 7436 Baltimore and Annapolis Blvd.

In all, there were three generations of Ruland wrestlers in the family room one night over the Christmas holiday, all eyes on the television as they analyzed matches. St. Mary's junior Lou Ruland and his grandfather, father and some uncles were dissecting the recent work of the state's top-ranked 119-pound competitor. "We tape the matches and go over them to find any mistakes we see, or good things," said Ruland's father, Lou Jr. There were plenty of good things. As for mistakes? Keep looking.

On February 18 2004, DOROTHY R.(nee Fonte); beloved wife of Robert D. Proud; devoted mother of Elizabeth Ruland and her husband John and Cindy Brown; dear grandmother of Mary Ruland. She was preceded in death by twelve brothers. A vigil service will be held at the family owned Leonard J. Ruck, Inc., Funeral Home, 5305 Harford Road, (Echodale), on Friday at 3:30 P.M. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Church of The Annunciation on Saturday at 10 A.M. Interment Gardens of Faith Cemetery.

Calvert Hall hoped to repeat as the Ed Peery Invitational Tournament champion, but coach Keith Norris said he knew that Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy would be tough to beat. Mercersburg proved Norris right and nearly had the tournament title clinched before the final round began. The Blue Storm won three individual titles, put 12 of 14 wrestlers in the top four and breezed to the team championship over No. 10 Calvert Hall yesterday at the Annapolis Area Christian School. Mercersburg put six wrestlers in the finals and had a 23-point lead before the round began.

Is Jeff Ruland in charge of the Iona basketball team, or is it "Coach McNasty"? In his second season with the Gaels, Ruland has guided his alma mater back to the NCAA tournament with the same no-nonsense style of his Washington Bullets days. The Long Island native likens himself more to the mob boss in the HBO series, "The Sopranos," than John Wooden. Looking down at every one of his players, the 6-foot-10, 295-pound Ruland orders each one to follow two off-court rules -- go to school and be on time -- or he'll kick them off the team despite joking that he majored in cutting class and minored in bar-hopping as a student.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- If overtimes required coaches to play one-on-one, Maryland would be in trouble. The Terps will have their customary edge in the first round of the NCAA tournament Thursday, however, when third-seeded Maryland meets 14th-seeded Iona in the Midwest Region. Both teams are bossed by alums, but while it will be the seventh straight tournament for Gary Williams, it's the first as a head coach for Jeff Ruland, who made it as a big man in the NBA. Maryland has been to the Sweet 16 in four of the last six years.

A full-scale search for a Stevensville man missing in the Wyoming wilderness for a week ended yesterday, though periodic spot searches are planned this week, authorities said.David M. Crouch, 27, never returned from what was supposed to be a two-hour fishing trip to Island Lake, near his campsite in the Bridger Wilderness of the Wind River Mountain Range, a week ago yesterday. The mountains are 10,500 feet above sea level, and Crouch did not have survival gear with him, authorities said.A helicopter, nine people and four dogs searched the remote mountainous area near Island and Lower Jean lakes about 25 miles northeast of Pinedale yesterday, said Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- If overtimes required coaches to play one-on-one, Maryland would be in trouble. The Terps will have their customary edge in the first round of the NCAA tournament Thursday, however, when third-seeded Maryland meets 14th-seeded Iona in the Midwest Region. Both teams are bossed by alums, but while it will be the seventh straight tournament for Gary Williams, it's the first as a head coach for Jeff Ruland, who made it as a big man in the NBA. Maryland has been to the Sweet 16 in four of the last six years.

The expectations on Jeff Ruland going into his first season as Iona's head coach were not unlike the ones he faced nearly 20 years ago as the team's star player.In other words, they were as enormous as 6-foot-11 Ruland himself."It's a little tougher [as a coach], because no matter how well we practice or how focused we are, it's out of your hands when the team's on the court," Ruland said last week.It's been a difficult start for Ruland, the former All-American and NBA All-Star who took over after three seasons as an assistant when Tim Welsh left last spring for Providence.