Jumps Coach Dennis Rue

Coach Dennis Rue begins his 30^th year of coaching in both the high school and collegiate levels in the state of Wisconsin. He is generally regarded as one of the finest jump coaches not only in the state of Wisconsin, but also at the NCAA Division III level. His experience and success at both the high school and collegiate levels makes him a valuable asset to UW-Whitewater. He has directed the Warhawk jumpers to become one of the top jumping programs in all of NCAA Division III track & field. He was a standout athlete at both Cambridge High School and UW-Stevens Point and brings a great level of coaching success to UW-Whitewater with both team and individual performances. In his 28 years of coaching he has coached all of the field events in both high school and college.

Coach Rue joined the UW-Whitewater coaching staff in 2003 as an Assistant Track & Field coach in the Jumps where he coaches Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, and assists with Pole Vault and Multi-Events. UW-W has experienced great success under Rue’s direction including: 6 WIAC Runner’s-Up, 1 NCAA Division III Runner’s-Up, 4 NCAA Division III Top Ten Finishes, 26 NCAA Division III Track & Field Qualifiers, 12 NCAA Division III All-Americans, 1 NCAA Division III National Champion, 10 WIAC Conference Champions and 19 WIAC All-Conference Athletes. Coach Rue has had more NCAA Division III qualifiers in the jumps than any other team. He also has the second most NCAA Division III All-Americans in the jumps. In the past 4 seasons, Rue has had 6 individual Long Jumpers over 23’0” and 5 individual Triple Jumpers over 47’ 6”.

Coach Rue’s coaching experience began in 1978 and again from 1980-83 at Stevens Point Area High School (SPASH) where he was the Assistant Boys Track & Field Coach. At SPASH, Coach Rue coached all field events. During his tenure, SPASH achieved 4 Wisconsin Valley Conference Championship teams and 2 WIAA Top Ten finishes in Class A.

Coach Rue returned to his alma mater (UWSP) in 1979 where he was the Assistant Women’s Track & Field Coach and coached all field events. The team achieved a 2^nd place finish at the 1979 conference meet.

In 1984, Coach Rue moved to his high school alma mater (Cambridge High School) where he was the Assistant Boys & Girls Track Coach. At Cambridge, Coach Rue coached the Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, and Pole Vault. The team achieved a 2^nd place finish at the WIAA Class C meet in 1984.

Coach Rue had his first experience coaching at UW-Whitewater from 1985-88 where he was the Multi-Event/Jumps Coach. At UWW, he coached the Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Pentathlon, and Decathlon.

From 1991-2002, Coach Rue moved to Whitewater High School where he was an Assistant Boys & Girls Track & Field Coach, coaching Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump and assisting with Shot Put, Discus, and Pole Vault. Whitewater achieved great success during Rue’s tenure: 3 WIAA Division II State Track & Field Championships, 3 WIAA Division II State Track & Field Runner’s-Up, 17 Southern Lakes Conference Team Championships, and 11 Top Ten finishes at the WIAA Division II State Track & Field Meet.

Coach Rue’s career began as a student-athlete at Cambridge High School from 1970-73 where he was a four sport letter winner in Football, Cross Country, Basketball, and Track & Field. His track & field team finished twice in the top 10 at the WIAA Class C meet. He was also the Eastern Suburban Conference champion in the Long Jump and mile relay. He placed 5^th at the 1973 WIAA State Track & Field meet in the Long Jump. His personal best high school Long Jump mark reached 22’ 9”.

Following high school, Coach Rue attended UW-Stevens Point from 1974-77 as a Physical Education Major and Coaching/Health Minor. At UWSP, Coach Rue was a 4 time letter winner in Track & Field and earned numerous awards, including: UWSP Most Improved Track & Field athlete (1975) and UWSP Most Valuable Track & Field Athlete (1976-77). He placed sixth at the 1976 NAIA National Outdoor Championships in the Triple Jump. Rue was also a four time WSUC Triple Jump champion. Rue was also a member of six WSUC championship teams.  He was the former WSUC record holder in the Triple Jump (Indoors/Outdoors). Rue still holds the UWSP Outdoor Track Record (Coleman Field) in the Triple Jump (49’ 6”) which he set in 1976. Rue also competed in the Long Jump, High Jump, Javelin, 4x200m relay, and 4x100m relay at UWSP. His collegiate bests are 23’8” (Long Jump), 49’ 11 ½” (Triple Jump), and 6’ 6” (High Jump).

Rue’s Record of Success

Individual Collegiate Coaching:

            In 9 Years…

                        47 NCAA Division III Track & Field Qualifiers

                        18 NCAA Division III All-Americans

1 NCAA Division III National Champion (Aaron Henderson, 2005, Indoor Triple Jump)

                        15 WIAC Conference Champions 

                        30 WIAC All-Conference Athletes

Individual High School Coaching:

            In 18 Years…

                        47 WIAA State Meet Qualifiers

                        12 All-State Track & Field Athletes

                        7 WIAA State Individual Champions

                        40 Individual Conference Champions

                        5 Athletes that became NCAA Division I Track & Field Athletes

                        2 Athletes that became NCAA Division III National Champions

                        5 Athletes that became NCAA All-Americans 

Rue’s Points of Interest

·        Coached Youth Basketball in Cambridge (10 Years)

·        Freshman Football Coach at Whitewater High School (1998-2002)

·        WIAA Basketball Official for 20 Years

·        Played Rugby at UW-Stevens Point (1978-83)

·        Has been a Clinician at numerous Track & Field Clinics throughout the State of Wisconsin

·        Produced two videos on training for the jumps

·        Has worked as the Jumps Clinician for the UW-Whitewater Track & Field camp for the past 4 years