Rugg lays down law with positivity

Shannon Rugg wants to bring back the dominance of Demons girls basketball.

'Washington has a history of producing competitive girls basketball teams,” Rugg said. 'I am hoping to build the program back up to be successful and revive the tradition.”

It is a high standard for the new head coach to aspire to.

Washington High School developed a reputation as a great girls basketball program.

The Demons won three consecutive titles when Stephanie Rich played. She scored 2,205 points while playing point guard. She was Miss Iowa Basketball and a basketball Hall of Famer. The only time her team didn't win a state title, it finished second.

Mary Berdo was the first five-player girl to score over 2,000 career points while also setting the mark for most career assists.

Rugg is in his first year at the helm of this storied program after Jordan Bentley left to coach at Nevada.

'He is really positive and that is what we really wanted this year,” Washington senior Isabel Bailey said. 'He just gives out a lot of positivity and he is very encouraging. He is hard on us and that is good for us. Whenever I look at him during a game he is saying, ‘good job' and clapping for us. I think that has helped us a lot this year.”

Bentley's teams were 22-44 during the last three seasons.

'I don't know why he left,” Bailey said. 'He just had a meeting and told us he was going to Nevada.”

The last time the Demons had a winning record was in the 2013-14 season when they were 15-8.

Washington is currently 5-4 this year.

'This season is going much better, not only are we winning, but we are working together,” Wilson said. 'Each of us has a job and we all have to use our abilities to come together.”

Their roles are more defined this year it's easier to accomplish something when you know what exactly is expected.

'I love working with young adults and teaching them the game and life skills,” Rugg said. 'Seeing the team mold together to become one, when this happens, you don't have to have all the best players. Each person makes the next better and then they can do anything and beat anyone.”

Rugg is the Assistant Production Manager at Engineered Building Design when he is not coaching.

'EBD is a great employer and works with me so I am able to coach,” Rugg said.

Rugg graduated from WACO in 1989 and has been honing his coaching abilities for 28 years.

Notable accomplishments were WACO's first-ever state tournament appearance in boys basketball, state semifinals as defensive coordinator and being recognized as assistant coach of the year in football and coaching three state track champions.

Now coaching in Washington allows him more personal time.

'I enjoy coaching in the town I live and spending more time with family,” Rugg said. 'The community is supportive of all high school activities. Everyone on staff at WHS has been very helpful in my transition. The student body has great enthusiasm and pride in the athletic teams and we enjoy having them at the games.”

Of course success starts with the effort put in on the practice floor and that is something Rugg has covered.

'The girls have been willing to work extremely hard to improve their basketball skills and begin the road back to success,” he said.

'He makes practice fun,” Bailey said. 'I just enjoy playing the game more.”

'The best part about Coach Rugg is he will be honest with you,” WHS senior Haylee Wilson said. 'Even if you think you are giving 100 percent, he knows you can go harder than that. He just pushes everyone to go harder.”

While last year's coach pushed the team, Rugg does it a different way.

'The other coach would criticize us,” Wilson said. 'Last year, I felt it was more negative.”

'I think we were scared to mess up last year,” Bailey said. 'If we mess up this year, he doesn't get super mad at us.”

If there is one thing he has learned from his athletes it is patience.

Rugg's coaching philosophy is 'Compete at all times, give everything you have and good things will happen.”

There was never one moment or happening that sent Rugg into the coaching life. 'I just always knew I was going to be a coach.”

He said the best part about it is seeing individuals mature. 'Watching the students grow throughout the years, not only as an athlete but as individuals,” is the best part of coaching.

There is a downside, mainly, time away from family. 'I'm very thankful that my family, namely my wife, supports my coaching. Without her, it would not be possible.”

'His positivity is giving us more confidence,” Bailey said. 'He has been really focused on us taking it to the basket.”

'I would say the difference is the goals we have for this year,” Wilson said. 'This year we have all been encouraging each other and we have more positive attitude.”

'If you work hard every day, then good things will happen, whether it is in athletics or in life,” Rugg said.