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| HEAD COACH GREG RUFFIN PAINE COLLEGE LIONS (Photo Courtesy: Paine College Athletics)  Paine College has new football coach |
“We are excited to have Coach Greg Ruffin as the first leader of the Paine College football team in over 50 years. His tremendous experience includes being involved in two start-up programs and working at multiple Division I and Division II institutions. He has a contagious energy, his passion for football is evident and his track record as a recruiter is unmatched. Paine College and the CSRA Community are very fortunate to have Coach Ruffin as the leader of Augusta's football team”, states Director of Athletics, Tim Duncan.
Paine College President, Dr. George C. Bradley states “this is a great day for Paine College. The hiring of Coach Greg Ruffin is the realization of the latest step in our strategic goal of Student Engagement - Strengthening our Athletic Program. Coach Ruffin stood out in the interview process because of his detailed vision of how he plans to start and grow the Paine College football team. He has assured me that the young men he recruits will be great representatives of Paine College and will be model student-athletes. I am pleased to have him lead our football program.”
“My family and I are ecstatic about the opportunity that has been bestowed upon me as your next Head Football Coach at Paine College. Dr. Bradley clearly has a vision for the college, and my staff and I will do everything in our power to make sure that we surround ourselves with quality student athletes who understand the mission and core values of the college as it relates to building a high quality NCAA Division II football program and graduate these young men”, stated Ruffin.
Ruffin comes to Paine College from Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, TX, where he served as the Recruiting Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach during the 2012 season. Prior to TSU, he served six seasons at Jackson State University helping the program win the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and a runner-up finish in 2009. In his duties at Jackson State, Ruffin served as the Recruiting Coordinator and Running backs Coach. Coach Ruffin came to JSU from Tuskegee University where he served as running backs coach under Head Coach Rick Comegy.
Before his arrival at Tuskegee in 2005, Ruffin served one season (2004) as defensive assistant coach at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR. Prior to Ouachita Baptist, he served one year (2002) as head football coach at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C., where he resurrected the football Shaw program after a 23-year hiatus, propelling the first-year program to a 7-3 record. Ruffin spent one year at Benedict College (2001) as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.
During two seasons (1999-2000) at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO, he worked in four different capacities - offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach, strength and conditioning coach and recruiting coordinator. He served on the staff of his alma mater for one season (1998) as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.
His first collegiate coaching assignment was in 1997 with Kemper Military Community College in Booneville, MO, as the running backs coach. In 1997, Kemper Military finished 10-2 and was ranked seventh in the country in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
In 1995, Ruffin coached the wide receivers and defensive backs at Northside High School in Jackson, TN; and running backs in 1996 at Jackson Central-Merry High School, Jackson, TN.
Ruffin started as a freshman at quarterback at Wentworth Military Academy, before transferring to Lane College in 1993. At Lane he was the starting fullback who paved the way for the late Fred Lane. Jr., who had a successful NFL career with the Carolina Panthers. In 1995, Lane posted a 9-1 record, the best in the school's history.
During his career he has been a part of two different programs that have resurrected their football programs after lengthy absences (Lincoln University 1999 & Shaw University in 2002).
He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the American Football Coaches Association and the USSSA Baseball Umpires Association. Ruffin is married to Mia B. Ruffin, and they are the parents of three. He is a graduate of Lane College (B.S. Criminal Justice) Jackson, TN, as well as Jackson State University (M.S. Sports Admin).
Coach Ruffin also states, “It is indeed an honor and a privilege to have been chosen to become the Head Football Coach here at Paine College. I believe with the quality of high school football that is being played in the Central Savannah River Area and the state of Georgia in particular, we should be able to build a formidable football program here at Paine College. We will work diligently & thoroughly to make sure that we recruit from this area and increase the awareness of our outstanding College, as well as the Augusta, GA area”.
For more information on Paine College Football, visit www.paineathletics.com.
COURTESY PAINE COLLEGE LIONS SPORTS INFORMATION
