Coach Ad Rutschman explores ‘winning with class’ in new book

Coach Ad Rutschman explores ‘winning with class’ in new book

Book review by Rusty Rae, McMinnville N-R/News-Register, July 30, 2021

During the winter of 1968, two pals and I from the Linfield College student newspaper were the first to interview newly-hired Linfield head football coach Ad Rutschman.

We were pretty excited about the interview since we would scoop four daily newspapers, two each in Portland and Salem.

With a portable tape recorder in hand, we’d be doing a question and answer interview.

We prepared for the interview with written questions for the brief 15 minutes we had between halftime at a Linfield men’s basketball game. Midway through the interview one of us asked him, “Coach, how do you think the team will do next year?”

Rutschman answered, “Well, I haven’t really had time to study the roster, but I’m not coming here to win football games — I’m really coming here to develop players into strong men.”

St. Vince -- NFL Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi -- revered for winning NFL championships and his “winning isn’t everything” — it’s the only thing quote flashed through our collective minds. I thought to myself “What? How will Linfield ever win another football game?”

Some 50 years later, after four national championships (three in football and one in baseball) for the Linfield Wildcats, Ad Rutschman’s secret sauce for success is now available in his recently released book, “Winning with Class.”

Written with Portland-based writer and publisher Carl Casanova, the 168-page book allows readers an inside look at Rutschman’s formula for success. Built around his second national championship win in 1984, when the Wildcats rallied from a 22-0 deficit to top the defending national champion 33-22, readers will not only find numerous nuggets of valuable advice on performance improvement but also understand Rutschman’s personal story.

The book provides a roadmap for anyone interested in improving their lot in life. Rutschman breaks down the formula for success in all six chapters. As he told the three of us in that initial interview, the focus isn’t on winning but on building people and programs, with the knowledge that if one follows that regimen, the winning will follow.

Each chapter focuses on one of the primary building blocks Rutschman used for his successful career. While most may remember his four national titles at Linfield, the book highlights the fact Rutschman is perhaps the only coach in history to win national championships in football and baseball at the collegiate level and state championships at the high school level.

It would be difficult to translate those chapters into a few concise words, but here are six compelling gems from Ad:

-The mental precedes the physical, and one must first get themselves in the right state of mind, and then act.

-What happens to us is one thing; how we deal with it is the most critical part.

-Formula for winning: People, preparation, performance.

-On the team, you may have marginal ability, but not marginal attitude.

-Your input affects thoughts, thoughts become actions, the action develops into habit and habits become your character.

-Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

In addition to these many aphorisms, there are many examples of how the application of these principles has led young men to success in their lives after football and Linfield. The application of the principles these men learned through Rutschman give credence to the Rutschman way. The stories of Steve Pickering and J.P. Ming stand as examples of how adhering to those principles aided them in being successful in their lives after Linfield.

Though the writing is not fluid and occasionally meanders from the main story, Rutschman called the more than year-long project nearly as difficult as winning a national championship. Though he had been asked about writing a book many times, Rutschman’s answer was always, “Don’t know how; not interested.”

But former Linfield head coach Jay Locey persisted and one day presented Rutschman with the opportunity to work with Casanova to produce the book. Little did Rutschman know the toil he would put into the process. The soon-to-be nonagenarian notes, “If I would have known how much work it would have taken up front, I wouldn’t have done it.”

On reflection, Rutschman says he’s happy with the result and believes it gives readers insights into how they may use and apply these principles into their development.

While the book became a true labor of love, those who read it will feel grateful for the gift of Rutschman’s philosophy of life brought to life.

Though the book is available through Amazon for $24.95, Rutschman is offering it for $18, including shipping. Orders can be placed by sending a check to Team Rutschman, 2142 NW Pinehurst Drive, McMinnville, OR 97128. If there are questions regarding the order, email teamrutschman@gmail.com 

 

Coach Ad Rutschman has written a book. Of course, you want your own copy. Here’s how to buy it!

Ad Rutschman has written a book. Of course, you want your own copy. Here’s how to buy it!

Wildcatville 7/30/2021

You always wanted Ad Rutschman to write a book. Now, he has. It’s “Winning with Class: The Story of the Hall of Fame Coach Ad Rutschman.”

 

For years, the iconic coach was asked to write a book. He resisted. But, finally, headed to his 90th birthday (he was born Oct. 30, 1931, in Hillsboro) the book is out. Yes, you want a copy.

 

He has a well-deserved reputation as an athlete and coach for working hard for athletic success. Writing this book was a new challenge. He succeeded spectacularly.

 

It’s published by New Vibe Press, a Portland-based book publishing company “with a designed purpose to help the world be a better place to live and learn.”

 

The best way to buy it and the most advantageous to “Team Rutschman” (Coach and family members) is directly from the Team at $18 per copy. That amount is about a 28% discount for what you’d pay for the book from New Vibe Press, Amazon and elsewhere.

 

Mail your check for $18 made out to “Team Rutschman” to Team Rutschman, 2142 N.W. Pinehurst Dr., McMinnville, OR 97128. The price includes shipping and handling. Questions? Email teamrutschman@gmail.com

 

It was written by the Coach and Carl Casanova (no relation to Len Casanova of University of Oregon sports fame), “founder and director of New Vibe Training, Oregon's first Coach Certification Training School.”

 

Text on the book’s back cover includes, “There have been many great coaches in sports but few as impactful on players’ lives as coach Rutschman. He is the only coach in sports history to ever win a national championship in football (winner of three) and baseball at the college level; a state championship in both football and baseball at the high school level. A true-to-life story that will give you the keys to winning and living with class.”

 

“Coach Rutschman …is one of the greatest … small-college coaches of all time,” said John Robinson (former USC head football coach, a University of Oregon grad and former UO assistant coach) on the book’s back cover.

 

On the book’s cover: “A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.”

 

We are fortunate to have Coach Ad Rutschman in our lives. A bonus is that he wrote this book.

….

Photos: Cover and back cover of the book. Linfield Football Coach Ad Rutschman and Steve Davis, Linfield sports information director, after one of the three national football championships Linfield won playing at Wortman Stadium, McMinnville High School. Photo by Rusty Rae. Linfield Baseball Coach Ad Rutschman during a game played in Portland at Sckavone Stadium. Photo by Rusty Rae.

Ad Rutschman Winning with Class

Book review by Rusty Rae, McMinnville N-R/News-Register, July 30, 2021

During the winter of 1968, two pals and I from the Linfield College student newspaper were the first to interview newly-hired Linfield head football coach Ad Rutschman.

We were pretty excited about the interview since we would scoop four daily newspapers, two each in Portland and Salem.

With a portable tape recorder in hand, we’d be doing a question and answer interview.

We prepared for the interview with written questions for the brief 15 minutes we had between halftime at a Linfield men’s basketball game. Midway through the interview one of us asked him, “Coach, how do you think the team will do next year?”

Rutschman answered, “Well, I haven’t really had time to study the roster, but I’m not coming here to win football games — I’m really coming here to develop players into strong men.”

St. Vince -- NFL Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi -- revered for winning NFL championships and his “winning isn’t everything” — it’s the only thing quote flashed through our collective minds. I thought to myself “What? How will Linfield ever win another football game?”

Some 50 years later, after four national championships (three in football and one in baseball) for the Linfield Wildcats, Ad Rutschman’s secret sauce for success is now available in his recently released book, “Winning with Class.”

Written with Portland-based writer and publisher Carl Casanova, the 168-page book allows readers an inside look at Rutschman’s formula for success. Built around his second national championship win in 1984, when the Wildcats rallied from a 22-0 deficit to top the defending national champion 33-22, readers will not only find numerous nuggets of valuable advice on performance improvement but also understand Rutschman’s personal story.

The book provides a roadmap for anyone interested in improving their lot in life. Rutschman breaks down the formula for success in all six chapters. As he told the three of us in that initial interview, the focus isn’t on winning but on building people and programs, with the knowledge that if one follows that regimen, the winning will follow.

Each chapter focuses on one of the primary building blocks Rutschman used for his successful career. While most may remember his four national titles at Linfield, the book highlights the fact Rutschman is perhaps the only coach in history to win national championships in football and baseball at the collegiate level and state championships at the high school level.

It would be difficult to translate those chapters into a few concise words, but here are six compelling gems from Ad:

-The mental precedes the physical, and one must first get themselves in the right state of mind, and then act.

-What happens to us is one thing; how we deal with it is the most critical part.

-Formula for winning: People, preparation, performance.

-On the team, you may have marginal ability, but not marginal attitude.

-Your input affects thoughts, thoughts become actions, the action develops into habit and habits become your character.

-Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

In addition to these many aphorisms, there are many examples of how the application of these principles has led young men to success in their lives after football and Linfield. The application of the principles these men learned through Rutschman give credence to the Rutschman way. The stories of Steve Pickering and J.P. Ming stand as examples of how adhering to those principles aided them in being successful in their lives after Linfield.

Though the writing is not fluid and occasionally meanders from the main story, Rutschman called the more than year-long project nearly as difficult as winning a national championship. Though he had been asked about writing a book many times, Rutschman’s answer was always, “Don’t know how; not interested.”

But former Linfield head coach Jay Locey persisted and one day presented Rutschman with the opportunity to work with Casanova to produce the book. Little did Rutschman know the toil he would put into the process. The soon-to-be nonagenarian notes, “If I would have known how much work it would have taken up front, I wouldn’t have done it.”

On reflection, Rutschman says he’s happy with the result and believes it gives readers insights into how they may use and apply these principles into their development.

While the book became a true labor of love, those who read it will feel grateful for the gift of Rutschman’s philosophy of life brought to life.

Though the book is available through Amazon for $24.95, Rutschman is offering it for $18, including shipping. Orders can be placed by sending a check to Team Rutschman, 2142 NW Pinehurst Drive, McMinnville, OR 97128. If there are questions regarding the order, email teamrutschman@gmail.com

 

Linfielder Rob Saxton leads Albany (Oregon) school district as superintendent (July 2021 story)

Linfielder Rob Saxton leads Albany (Oregon) school district as superintendent

Story below based on a story in Portland’s Oregonian includes mention of Rob Saxton. He is a former Linfield quarterback and son of Cliff and LaRene Saxton, both of whom attended Linfield. Cliff, who played football for Linfield, is a member of the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame.

Linfielder Rob Saxton, retired Oregon schools chief was hired by the Albany (Oregon) school board as its interim leader weeks after its three newest members voted to fire Superintendent Melissa Goff without explanation says the 7/27/2021 Oregonian.

 “There’s no one better,” board member Pete Morse said of Saxton, according to the Oregonian.

The Oregonian said:

-Saxton spent his early career as a high school teacher and administrator in Albany before being hired by the McMinnville district and then becoming superintendent in Sherwood and, later, Tigard-Tualatin.

-In 2012, then-Gov. John Kitzhaber chose Saxton to become Oregon’s first appointed schools chief, after the last elected one, Democrat Susan Castillo, left for a job with a national education nonprofit.

-Saxton left the state position in 2015 to lead the Northwest Regional Educational Service District. He retired from that role in 2019 and, at age 61, runs a consulting firm that most recently advised the Eugene district on its search for an interim superintendent.

-The Albany board received about 100 written comments ahead of Monday’s meeting, the vast majority in support of hiring Saxton as the district’s interim superintendent.

The Oregonian also said:

- Some community members in their written testimony expressed concern that Saxton’s son, Sean, is an assistant principal at West Albany High.

-Several others asked whether Saxton would push for social distancing and masking for the coming school year.

-He was noncommittal in his response during Monday’s meeting, citing the difficulties superintendents and state officials have had in setting policies as the pandemic unfolded over the last year.

-“I think it’s important for us to listen to experts and move forward with all due caution,” Saxton said.

-Wilson asked Saxton about his approach to equity, particularly in regard to neurodivergent students — or those on the autism spectrum or with other non-typical neurologies — and pupils in the talented and gifted program. Saxton told the board he would start by identifying whether students of color had proper representation in the latter.

-“If we see a real disparity in who’s in TAG, then we’ve done something wrong,” Saxton said, adding that any approach to addressing inequity should be “additive.” “You can’t take away.”

-The board voted 4-1 to hire Saxton.

-Michael Thomson, the lone dissenting voice, didn’t take issue with Saxton’s credentials. Instead, he told his peers they acted too hastily in finding a replacement for Goff.

-“We’re interviewing one guy who’s got connections to Albany,” he said. “One person, yes or no. He’s not a bad guy but he’s got to take some time off in August. I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.”

-Although Saxton’s hiring was immediate as of the board’s vote, the incoming superintendent took off for an out-of-state trip at 3 a.m. Tuesday. He’ll be gone until Aug. 6.

-Then on Aug. 16, Saxton will be gone for another 10 days. All told, he’ll be in Albany for eight working days that month.

-“Unfortunately, he had some pre-planned adventures outside of the state,” Wilson said.

-Paul Dakopolos, the district’s legal counsel, advised board members to approve Saxton’s hiring on Monday night. But he told the five men they should host another meeting Wednesday to give the public a chance to comment on Saxton’s $150,000 contract before voting on it.

-Instead, the board also voted 4-1 to rubber stamp the agreement.

-The contract includes a $500 monthly vehicle allowance and $2,500 for technology. Saxton said the tech stipend will offset the costs of a cell phone he’ll use for district business and to pay for his home internet.

-The district will pay Saxton’s health insurance for two years after he leaves the superintendent post. Saxton also won’t be eligible to take the job permanently, not that he wants it.

-“You should move and get me back to retirement as soon as possible,” he told the board.

-Saxton’s contract runs through the end of the coming school year and he estimates his insurance will cost about $15,000 for the year, putting the agreement’s total cost closer to $168,000.

-Goff, whom the board fired on a 3-1 vote, earned a base salary of $181,000.

-Saxton’s hiring as Albany’s interim superintendent is the latest twist in a tumultuous time for the district of about 9,000 students.

-Months ago, Goff and her deputy superintendent accused board member Eric Aguinaga of disrespecting staff and leaking confidential information. An internal report backed up their claims.

 

Stories in N-R about Mac Hall

In 1937, new men’s dorm (Mac Hall) ‘moving rapidly to completion’

As reported in the June 27, 2021, McMinnville N-R/News-Register, the July 29, 1937, edition of the newspaper included a photo (posted here). Cutline for photo says, “The new men’s dormitory at Linfield College is moving rapidly to completion and will be ready to house 80 men when the fall term opens.” The dorm is Mac Hall.

:::::::

Mac Hall comes down to make way for a new science building

By Starla Pointer, McMinnville N-R/News-Register, June 24, 2021

Crews are dismantling Linfield University’s Mac Hall, all in the name of science — so they can expand Linfield’s science facilities and meet the need for increasing cross-disciplinary interaction and research.

Starting Monday morning, Walsh Construction workers started taking apart the 1937 structure, sections of brick at a time, in an effort to save as much material as possible for reuse, said Joseph Hunter, advancement director. 

With the careful dismantling, some parts of the former dorm, which had been used for technology offices since 2007, may become part of the new science complex. Working from the east end of the building, crews have spent the week pulling off the brick and exterior siding and gradually razing the three-story structure.

“We’re pulling metal off, and we will palletize some of the brick for a monument,” said Richard Stephenson, superintendent of Walsh Construction. University officials said the monument design will be determined by a committee, as a way to commemorate Mac Hall as a student residence over the years.

A project electrician whose father had lived in the dorm asked for a brick. In addition, bricks were given to three members of News-Register news staff who graduated from Linfield, then College.

“Everything in there is clean, as we call it; it can be demolished and taken off site,” Stephenson said. He said asbestos was removed from around pipe insulation two weeks ago.

“It’s one small piece at a time, no implosion or pushing the whole building over,” Stephenson said. “We need to keep dust down and protect Graf Hall; it will be a slow process, and we’ll put it in piles and sort the metal, brick and concrete, for recycling.”

Mac Hall was listed on the McMinnville Historic Resources Inventory. Earlier this year, the university won city approval to tear it down after arguing that a new science facility is necessary to ensure Linfield has competitive academic offerings.

Architect Brian Jackson added that the old building could not be renovated into the type of facility the university needs. The new building will benefit both the school and the city, he said.

Set to open in fall 2022, the science complex will connect with remodeled Graf Hall next door and Murdock Hall farther west on Linfield Avenue. It will house the wine studies program, as well as classrooms, labs and other research facilities and offices for science faculty and students.

“New spaces for collaboration and learning” will inspire new projects and cross-disiplinary work, said Ariel Miyama, biology major who plans to work in health care, possibly as a doctor or physician’s assistant.

Miyama, from Hillsboro, will be a senior in the fall. She is spending the summer doing research with Linfield Professor Sreerupa Ray on DNA repair pathology, which may play a role in cancer treatment or prevention.

They were working in Graf Hall, but moved to Murdock because of the upcoming renovations.

Although she will have graduated by the time the new science complex opens, Miyama said she is excited for the opportunities it will bring to students and staff.

“It will be bigger, with modern equipment, better and with dedicated space, so we won’t have to move things,” said Miyama, who plans to return to see the new complex in action.

Biology professor Catherine Reinke said she and her colleagues also are excited about the new space, which will “blend and integrate wine studies and all the STEM subjects,” within the array of sciences, technology, engineering and math.

One of the greatest opportunities Linfield offers undergraduates is a chance to participate in research such as Miyama is doing with her professor and Reinke’s students are doing with her, she said.

“Experiential learning and research” also happens in collaboration with peers at schools across the country, Reinke said. For instance, Reinke’s classes are involved in the Tiny Earth project, in which students around the world look for antibiotics residue in local soils.

The professor said she also is looking forward to “pulling in more disciplines.” She expects students in all sorts of Linfield programs to connect science with their majors, and inspire science majors to expand their thinking, as well.

The new science building will comprise 35,000 square feet on two stories and a basement. Another 29,000 square feet in Linfield’s existing science buildings will be remodeled.

Graf Hall was built in the 1960s. Construction on Murdock started in 1982. 

As it planned the new science complex, Linfield has quietly been raising money from major donors, foundations and alumni for several years. The public part of the campaign started in May. 

“Every gift makes an incredible impact on students,” said Hunter, who is leading the effort to raise $37 million for the project.

The capital campaign is called “Spark,” and is intended to encourage curiosity, ambition and capability, Hunter said. “It’s an investment in the future,” he said.

The science complex will help Linfield attract and retain students, Hunter said. In addition to science majors who might be headed for careers as doctors or researchers, and wine studies majors, it will offer classes for students from all disciplines. In addition, he said, it will be part of the program for nursing majors who spend their first two years on the McMinnville campus, then attend the nursing school in Portland.

:::

Linfield seeks to replace old dorm with science facility

Linfield seeks to replace old dorm with new science facility

By Dora Totoian, McMinnville N-R/News-Register March 9, 2021

The historic landmarks committee will consider this week an application to demolish Mac Hall on Linfield University’s campus to site another science building.

The building, located at 900 S.E. Baker St., is designated a “significant” historic resource on the McMinnville Historic Resources Inventory. The university argues that building another science facility to connect to existing ones Graf and Murdock halls is necessary to ensure Linfield has competitive academic offerings.

The architect who would build the new building, Brian Jackson, also said in the application the building cannot be renovated into the type of facility the university needs.

The historic landmarks committee must consider several review criteria in comparison to the building’s historic significance in order to approve the application. The application does not have to meet all criteria to be approved, but the committee must find they outweigh the building’s historical significance. They include:

= Preserving the building deters an improvement program that would greatly benefit the city.

= Preserving it would result in financial hardship for the university.

= Preserving it wouldn’t be in the best interest of most residents.

Mac Hall began as a men’s dorm in 1937. In 2007, it was turned into offices for information technology staff, but only one of its three floors is used.

Planning staff supports Linfield’s argument that more modern science facilities are necessary for the university’s success and that it would be unreasonably expensive to remodel the building for these purposes. However, staff also noted the building’s historical value and significance.

The department ultimately recommends the committee approve the application, with the condition that 20 photos of the interior and 20 of the exterior be submitted to the Planning Department before issuing the demolition permit.

The architect also included a space for a small memorial plaque and time capsule near the potential new building as a way to acknowledge its history.

The historic landmarks committee will decide on the application at its Thursday meeting, and the decision may be appealed to the planning commission within 15 days.

The university has identified its nursing and science programs overall as critical to its success, Jackson wrote in the application. Forty-four percent of the class of 2018 earned a nursing degree, and 25% of students at any given time are taking science courses. The university also plans to expand enrollment in its nursing program.

The new science complex would have 111 additional lab seats, which would allow the university to accommodate at least 166 more students each semester. That would result in an additional $1.8 million each year, Jackson said.

#

BILLBOARD UP HIGH IN SHERWOOD, OREGON, PROMOTES LINFIELD UNIVERSITY

Look up in the Six Corners area of Sherwood (Washington County), Oregon, and you'll see a billboard (see photos and video clip) promoting Linfield University's McMinnville (Yamhill County) and Portland (Multnomah County) campuses. The billboard is above near Luna Nails & Spa, 16840 SW Edy Rd #142, Sherwood OR 97140. Linfield University in McMinnville is at 900 SE Baker St, McMinnville, OR 97128. It's about 23.2 miles from the billboard to the McMinnville campus. Linfield's Portland campus is at 2900 NE 132nd Ave, Portland, OR 97230. That campus is also home of the Linfield U School of Nursing. Depending on the route you drive, it's about 25-27 miles between the billboard and the Linfield Portland campus. (Photos/video by Wildcatville on 7/18/2021.)

Video link

https://youtu.be/D12OwxtBVlQ