Matt Ruhland

Matt Ruhland ‘04 enters his second season as the inside linebackers coach at Hamline. A Piper alum, Ruhland brings numerous accolades from his playing days to the coaching staff.

Ruhland was an inside linebacker from 2001-2003 at Hamline, being named to both the All-MIAC team and the Academic All-MIAC team in 2002 and 2003. He also received several Piper honors in his playing career.

In 2002, Ruhland earned the 2002 George Spano Memorial Award for the most improved player.

At the completion of his playing career in 2003, he earned the Jerry Smith Memorial Award, awarded each season to the Piper football senior who exemplified courage, sacrifice and leadership. He was also the 2003 winner of the Mike Drill Award, given to a player demonstrating commitment to off-season work.

In the spring of his senior year, Ruhland threw javelin for the Piper track and field team. That same academic year, College Sporting News honored Ruhland by featuring him in an “MIAC Profile of Excellence.”

Seven Ruhland family members have attended Hamline, leading to their being named the 2004 College of Liberal Arts Family of the Year for their commitment to the university.

The fall following his graduation, Ruhland returned to work on a volunteer basis with the Pipers’ inside linebackers, before becoming the ninth grade coach and working with the wide receivers and defensive backs at North High School in 2005. Most recently, he served as the outside linebackers coach at Eagan High School in 2006 and 2007.

Ruhland graduated from Hamline in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health education. He is also the fitness center coordinator at Century College in White Bear Lake.