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Max Ruhl
Max Ruhl was hired as the Spartans’ next head women’s lacrosse coach on Aug. 13, 2020. He becomes the fourth head coach in program history succeeding Lindsay Carlile, who stepped down from her position in July.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Ruhl will also serve as the University’s Director of Fitness & Recreation. The Spartans’ new leader is quite accustomed to the integration of faith and learning both as a student-athlete and as a coach. A graduate of NCAA DII Ohio Valley University, a private, Christian college in Vienna, West Virginia, Ruhl was a member of OVU’s first-ever men’s lacrosse team and later returned to the university as the inaugural head women’s lacrosse coach in 2015.
“Max brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in both lacrosse and fitness education,” Smith said of Coach Ruhl. “I have no doubt that he will immediately contribute to the success of our programs both on and off the field.”
Ruhl will usher in a new era for Missouri Baptist Women’s Lacrosse with plenty to work with including the return of two-time NAIA Second Team All-American Kaitlin Mills in goal, an offensive juggernaut in Jordan Haeusser, who has posted 54 points (40 G, 14 A) in just 13 career games played, along with a healthy mixture of young and veteran talent.
"There's a lot that enticed me about MBU ... the location, facilities, a faith-based environment, a vision of creating a nationally sought-after program, career growth,” Ruhl explained. “What has caught my attention the most has been my conversation with the team. They want to win, and they want to work for those wins."
Leading the brand-new program to its most successful season in school history, Ruhl was the recipient of Ohio Valley University Athletics’ Coach of the Year Award in 2018-19. His 2019 squad led the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in draw controls per game (15.80), while individually, the Fighting Scots boasted the conference leader in caused turnovers, ground balls and draw controls/game and had a trio of players rank in the league’s Top 10 in goals per game. During his time with the Scots, Ruhl led three individuals to the all-conference team, five to the academic all-conference team and the team was named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad in 2018. Ruhl also participated on the IWLCA Top 25 and NCAA DII Top 20 Coaches’ Polls.
While at Ohio Valley, Ruhl also bolstered his resume in higher education spending nearly two years as Associate Director of Admissions, two years as an adjunct professor and two more as Director of Sports Management.
Following the 5+ years at his alma mater, Ruhl spent 2019-20 as head women’s lacrosse coach at NCAA DIII Gordon College, a nationally-ranked, Christian, liberal arts institution in Wenham, Massachusetts. While at Gordon, Ruhl had 11 individuals selected to the Academic All-CCC list. He also coached with the REV Lacrosse Club out of the greater Boston area. REV is nationally known for producing strong and confident, young women, as well as producing some of New England’s premier tournaments and showcases.
Other related work experience for Ruhl includes serving as strength and conditioning graduate assistant at Frostburg State University and assistant coach for Ohio University’s Division I men’s lacrosse club team, where he got his start in coaching.
Ruhl graduated from Ohio Valley University with his B.A. in Wellness and Health Sciences in 2011 and proceeded to pursue a pair of master’s degrees. He graduated with a Master’s in Recreation and Sport Science from Ohio University in 2012, and worked towards his MBA at Frostburg State.
"With some of my immediate family already well established in St. Louis, I've been in and out of the city for 18 years now, so coming to MBU is like coming home," Ruhl added.
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