Green Bay's men's basketball program announced a significant addition to its coaching staff, welcoming Preston Ruedinger as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2026‑27 season.
Ruedinger, who spent the last three years as a player for the Phoenix, brings a deep understanding of the program's culture and expectations, having been a standout figure for fans during his collegiate career.
A Familiar Face Returns
The native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, returns to the university where he once led the team in minutes played and assists, and where his defensive instincts and playmaking ability earned him All‑Horizon League Second Team honors.
In his final season, he started every game, averaging 11.6 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 45.3 percent from three‑point range, numbers that placed him among the league leaders in several statistical categories.
Coach Doug Gottlieb expressed confidence that Ruedinger's experience and basketball IQ will bolster the team's defensive schemes and recruiting outreach, especially as the program looks to build on recent successes.
Ruedinger himself highlighted the emotional significance of coaching the same community that supported him as a player, noting that the opportunity to give back feels like a natural progression of his involvement with the sport.
His career trajectory includes a decorated high school stint at Lourdes Academy, where he was named Associated Press First Team All‑State and guided his team to its first WIAA state championship, before moving on to Valparaiso for his college years.
During his time at Valparaiso, he appeared in 88 games over three seasons, contributing to the team's performance both on and off the court, and earning Horizon League All‑Academic Honorable Mention recognition in 2024‑25.
The hiring underscores the program's commitment to leveraging alumni expertise to enhance competitiveness, and it signals a strategic focus on developing defensive identity and strengthening ties with prospective recruits in the region.