LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jeff Rutter has been hired as an assistant coach on the Bellarmine University men's basketball staff, head coach Doug Davenport announced today.

"We are beyond fortunate to get someone with Coach Rutter's experience and expertise to join the program," Davenport said. "Jeff's values align with the values of our program in every aspect. He will help each and every player and staff member reach potential during their time with us."

Rutter joins the Knights after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Western Michigan.
In his time at WMU, Rutter helped lead the Broncos to back-to-back MAC Tournament appearances in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the first time for the program since the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. He was also vital in the development of several Western Michigan standout players, seeing five players earn All-Mac honors, highlighted by JaVaughn Hannah's Sixth Man of the Year in 2022-23 and Chansey Willis Jr.'s All-MAC Second Team in 2024-25. Nine Broncos earned Academic All-MAC laurels in addition to seven CSC Academic All-District honorees and seven NABC Honors Court members with Rutter on staff.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of a tradition-rich program," Rutter said. "I'm excited to work with Coach Davenport, staff and players. There is a clear identity here with our program. I'm ready to pour in everything I have to help us reach our potential and represent what our fans and supporters expect!"

Rutter, who has been in the college coaching realm for 36 years, cut his teeth at North Dakota State in 1990, beginning his career as a graduate assistant for two years before being named a full-time assistant with the Bisons from 1992-95. There, he helped NDSU win the 1995 NCC Championship and advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament in both 1994 and 1995.

From there, Rutter served as an assistant coach at Stetson for one season before getting his first head coaching job at University of Wisconsin-Parkside in 1996. In his seven seasons at the helm of the Rangers' program, Rutter guided the team to its first GLVC Tournament appearance in school history in 2002 and again in 2003. He also led the Rangers to a win over the No. 1 ranked Division II team in the country and secured the highest national ranking in program history at No. 16.

In 2003, Rutter made the jump to Division I as an assistant coach at Northern Iowa where he helped lead the team to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and achieve the most successful three-year record in program history.

Rutter then moved to Ames, IA to join the Iowa State staff for seven years, first as an assistant coach (2006-10 under Greg McDermott) before a promotion to Director of Basketball Operations (2010-13 under Fred Hoiberg). With the Cyclones, he coached 13 All-Big 12 student-athletes and 32 players who went on to play professionally, including nine who reached the NBA. The Cyclones made a pair of NCAA Tournaments during Rutter's time there and won their first-round game on both occasions.

After his time in Ames, Rutter moved on to coach at Drake for four seasons, primarily as an assistant coach. He took over as the interim head coach for the Bulldogs in 2016-17 when he led Drake to a five-game winning streak, its first win at Missouri State in 25 years and installed an offense that finished the season ranked third in scoring, first in three-pointers made and first in free throws made in the MVC. While with the Bulldogs, Rutter was the lead recruiter for the program's all-time leading scorer and three-time Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year Reed Timmer. Timmer also earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team. Additionally, Rutter helped the Bulldogs land First-Team All-Conference selection Nick McGlynn and recruited a group that led the nation with seven NABC Honors Court selections.

In 2017, Rutter joined the staff at Miami University (Ohio) where he spent five seasons as an assistant and helped guide the RedHawks to 70 wins and an appearance in the 2018 CBI. With Rutter on the sidelines, several Miami players earned All-MAC honors, including Darrian Ringo, an All-MAC Defensive Team honoree who was the only player in the country to finish in the top 10 in both steals and assists. Mekhi Lairy, Dae Dae Grant, Dalonte Brown and Nike Sibande were named to the All-Freshman Team, with Sibande also being named the MAC Freshman of the Year and becoming an All-Conference selection. Grant also received All-MAC recognition and Brown exceeded 1,500 points and 800 rebounds in his career. Miami also had seven Academic All-MAC performers during his tenure.

Following his time in Oxford, Rutter accepted an assistant coaching position at Western Michigan.

Rutter and his wife, Shari, have a son, AJ, a daughter-in-law, Rachel, and a granddaughter, Brooke.  

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow BUKnights on X, Instagram and Facebook.