SUNY Potsdam Athletics

Tara Ruckh begins her 11th season as head women’s basketball coach at SUNY Potsdam.

Last season, Ruckh helped senior captain Bailey Weigel to a spot on the All-SUNYAC third team. Weigel averaged 13.3 points-per-per-game and 8.7 rebounds-per-game. Weigel finished her career ranked eighth on the program's all-time scoring list with 831 points and seventh all-time in rebounding with 595 boards.

In 2013-14, with Ruckh's guidance, senior captain Jessica Kouzan emerged as one of the SUNYAC's best players. Kouzan averaged 17.1 points-per-game and finished with 430 points to move into fifth place on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,043. Kouzan's performance earned her a spot on the all-conference third team.

During the 2012-13 campaign, Ruckh helped coach standout senior guard Katy Briedis to ninth place on the program's all-time scoring list with 779 points.

In 2011-12, the Bears battled youth, but still managed key conference victories at Cortland and over eventual SUNYAC Champion Oneonta.

In 2010-11, Ruckh coached senior guard Aimee Kellicutt to a place on the All-SUNYAC third team. Kellicutt finished in conference's top 10 in scoring (12.1 points per game), assists (2.92 per game), free throw percentage (.763), steals (2.52 per game) and minutes played (30.4 per game).

In 2009-10, the Bears reached the SUNYAC Tournament quarterfinals. Under Ruckh's guidance, Cortney Poirier, the program's all-time leading scorer, received her second straight first team All-SUNYAC selection and her third all-conference mention.

In 2008-09, the women's team finished with 17-12 tally as it completed one of the best years in the history of women's basketball at SUNY Potsdam. The Bears advanced to the championship game of the 2009 SUNYAC Tournament and appeared the ECAC Tournament.

In her initial season with the Bears, Ruckh took a team with eight freshman and two sophomores and made it competitive in the very tough SUNYAC. The Bears recorded their first conference wins in nearly two years, and were in contention for a SUNYAC playoff spot until the last week of the season.

Prior to taking the helm of the Potsdam program in 2005, Ruckh was the top assistant to Dan Raymond at Ithaca College. During her tenure with Ithaca, the women tallied a 109–30 record while winning four Empire Eight Conference Championships. Ithaca made five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances during that time. Ruckh was also an assistant coach for women's lacrosse and women's outdoor track and field while at Ithaca.

A 1999 graduate of SUNY Cortland, Ruckh was a two-year captain for the women’s basketball team. Under Ruckh's leadership, the women finished 26-2 while winning the 1999 SUNYAC championship and making their first NCAA tournament appearance. During her four-year career at Cortland, Ruckh averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds.

Coach Ruckh was also an assistant coach and head JV coach at Cortland for one season prior to her appointment at Ithaca. In 2001, Ruckh completed her master's in education at Cortland. A native of South Dayton, Ruckh played on three New York State PHSAA championship teams at Pine Valley Central School.