This story posted in January 2010. Updated March 2010.
There’s not enough room or time to list every former Linfield football player or former Linfield assistant football coach who served and was positively influenced by Ad Rutschman for the 24 years (1968-1991) head was the Wildcats’ head football coach. But, nonetheless, here are a few of them:
Mike Riley and Randy Mueller. In January 2010, bkfootball.com selected the first all-time All-Idaho Football All-Star team. Former Linfield assistant football coach Riley (born in Wallace, Idaho) was named the team’s head coach. Mueller, Linfield grad and former Wildcat quarterback (born in St. Maries, Idaho) is the team’s general manager. Riley is Oregon State University head football coach. Mueller is senior executive for the NFL San Diego Chargers.
Jay Locey. He was an assistant football coach (starting in 1983) at Linfield before becoming head football coach (1996-2006). He is now an assistant football coach at Oregon State University.
Todd Spencer. He’s an assistant football coach at Georgia Tech and used to be at Navy. He was a Rutschman assistant working the offensive line while Spencer earned a M.A. degree in physical education from Linfield in 1981.
Matt Cate. He was appointed by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on May 16, 2008, as Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. A Linfield business administration grad, he was a National Scholar Athlete. He lettered in football for the Wildcats during the 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987 seasons.
Ed Langsdorf and his son Danny Langsdorf. Ed, now college scout for the NFL San Diego Chargers, was an assistant football coach before he succeeded Rutschman as head coach, serving the 1992-1995 seasons. Danny, now an Oregon State University assistant football coach, is a Linfield grad and played quarterback for the Wildcats, lettering in 1994 and 1995.
The brothers Lopes, Lance and Steve. Lance is NFL Seattle Seahawks’ VP/General Counsel and business development. Steve is University of Southern California senior associate athletic director. Both lettered in football for Linfield, Lance is 1981-1982-1983 and 1984 and Steve in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.Wes Suan. He is a Southern Methodist University assistant football coach.
His football coaching background includes serving at the University of Hawaii and Linfield, where he lettered 1971, 1972,1973 and 1974. In addition to coaching football at Linfield, he also served as assistant athletic director.Reflecting, Ad Rutschman says, "Wonderful memories and wonderful people. At last count, about 120 or more became head coaches. I have no idea how many became assistatn coaches."
