Three years ago, the Athletics Department at UB wanted to start fresh again with the basketball program. They looked upon a young coach with aspirations of turning a program around, and found their man. Mike Ruane came to UB after the team won just 12 games in the four years prior to his reign. After a high school job and stints with a few colleges, Ruane found his home here with the Purple Knights.
In his first season as the head coach, he brought UB back on the map in the NYCAC conference with their first playoff birth ever, losing in the first round of the conference playoffs.
As the recruiting came full circle, UB posted its first .500 season in nine years with a 14-14 record making it to the semi-final round of the playoffs losing to one of Ruane’s old coaching jobs at Philadelphia University.
This season Ruane broke the .500 mark for his career and has guided his team to a phenomenal 22-6 record and a spot in the NCAA Northeast Regional tournament which has not been done since the 92′-93′ season when UB had All-American standout Lambert Shell.
Ruane set a standard last season wanting to win 20 games this season and make it into the NCAA regional. UB did just that and ended the regular season ranked third in the conference at received their first home playoff game in 10 years. Now the bar is raised and Ruane, his staff, and the players know what it takes to win games and are looking to keep the post season alive.
The great job that has been done here in the past three seasons has paid off for the Redding, Pennsylvania native. Ruane is this season NYCAC Coach of the Year and will be looking to harness the first men’s basketball NYCAC conference title in school history.
We would like to wish Ruane and the Purple Knights good luck as they make their way into the NCAA tournament with one goal on their mind. Best wishes UB, and we are behind you all the way!