Hillsboro, Kan. – John Ruder has been hired as the next head coach of the Tabor College men's and women's tennis teams. Rusty Allen, vice president for athletics and athletic director made the announcement.

"We are excited to have Coach Ruder joining our staff," said Vice President of Athletics Rusty Allen. "He brings a wealth of tennis coaching and playing experience, recruiting connections and a deep Christian commitment.  We are grateful for the good job our previous tennis coaches have done with the program, and believe Coach Ruder will build from that foundation."

A native of Denison, Texas, Ruder holds a master's of arts in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. and a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in psychology from Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Ill.

Ruder comes to Tabor from Denton Ryan High School, in Denton, Texas, where he served as the varsity and junior varsity tennis coach, while teaching content mastery and reading improvement as a special education teacher.

Ruder brings over 27 years of coaching experience to the table, including 17 years as a tennis coach, five of which were served as an assistant and 12 as the head coach at high school level.

He started the tennis program at Valley Union High School in Elfrida, Ariz. where he built the program from six players in 1995 to 38 by 2005. He also developed the tennis facility at the school which started as a net that stretched across the parking lot and now consists of four, quality tennis courts.

John has coached at the 1A/2A levels in Arizona and the 4A level in Texas. During his time he has coached one girl's state singles champion, one girl's state singles runner-up, one boy's doubles state runner-up, and eight district champions (6 singles and 2 doubles). In 2004 the girl's team at Valley Union finished as state runner-up.

He has also served as a coach for football, basketball , track and field, and baseball during his career.

Ruder is also actively involved in the church where he has served on the board for the past 25 years and as elected church board secretary the past two years. He has also served as a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader, Children's Church Director, and Adult Bible Study Leader.

"I am so excited to be a part of an institution that puts Christ first, not just in words, but in actions," said Ruder. "For the last three years I have felt God leading me toward a position where I can use tennis to mentor athletes for a lifetime of service to Christ. From the moment I visited the Tabor athletic website, I knew this was the place God wanted me to coach. Now I can't wait to get started."