Kerry Rupp begins his first season as UH’s Director of Basketball Operations. Rupp has nearly three decades of coaching experience, including his most recent position as head coach of Western Athletic Conference rival Louisiana Tech.
Prior to reviving Louisiana Tech, Rupp worked as a top assistant at some of the most successful basketball programs in the nation and developed a reputation as one of college basketball’s top recruiters.
Rupp spent four seasons with Louisiana Tech (2007-11), elevating the program to its most successful stretch in recent history. He led the Bulldogs to nine-win improvements in back-to-back seasons. He was named the 2009-10 Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches’ Coach of the Year and Louisiana Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a 24-11 record, their best since 1985.
Amidst the 24-win season was a 10-game win streak, as the Bulldogs received votes in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1991. Rupp took Tech to postseason play for the first time in four years with an appearance in the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament and recorded a win in the postseason for the first time in eight years.
During the 2008-09 season, Rupp led Tech to 15 wins, a nine-win improvement over the previous season. It was the fourth most improved team in Tech history and the most since 1994-95.
Rupp came to Tech after assistant coaching stints at Alabama-Birmingham, Indiana and Utah. Prior to the 2006-07 season at UAB, Rupp was associate head coach under Mike Davis at Indiana from 2004-06, when the Hoosiers made an NIT berth in 2005.
From 2000-04, Rupp coached under Rick Majerus for the University of Utah, where the Utes amassed a 70-26 overall record, went to three NCAA Tournaments, an NIT bid and went to the Mountain West Championship game twice. Rupp was also responsible for the Utes’ recruiting of Andrew Bogut, who would become the National Player of the Year, First Team All-American and the top pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.
Rupp also served as interim head coach for the part of the 2004 season at Utah as the Utes
finished with a 10-4 record and its first-ever Mountain West Tournament Championship.
Rupp arrived at Utah after a successful 24-year high school coaching career, where he served as an assistant coach (1986-90) and then head coach (1990-2000) at Salt Lake City’s East High School. There he led the Leopards to four region titles and two state title game appearances and was named the Utah High School Activities Association Coach of the Year in 1999.
Rupp has been involved in basketball on several levels. He coached the Utah All-Stars against the adidas national team in 1995, and he directed the Utah High School 4A All-Stars against the 5A All-Stars in 1996 and ’97. He coordinated the Utah Jazz’ Summer League (currently Rocky Mountain Review), when it was held at East High School in 1993 and was part of the Seattle Supersonics’ summer league staff during the 1996 Rocky Mountain Review.
Rupp has also worked numerous basketball camps, including the Rick Majerus Big Man-Guard Camp and as director of the Karl Malone Basketball Camp. Rupp also served as the co-executive director of the Karl Malone Foundation For Kids.
A 1972 graduate of Cyprus High School, where he was an All-American in basketball and all-state performer in football and basketball, Rupp played two years at Utah State before transferring to Southern Utah. He was named the Thunderbirds’ team MVP and earned all-district and all-conference honors as a senior in 1977. Rupp earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Southern Utah in 1977.
He and his wife, Lori, have five daughters; Allie, Lindsey, Shelby, Billie and Randie; and six grandchildren.
