Ruland out as Iona coach

Mar 27, 2007 - 6:26 PM NEW ROCHELLE, New York (Ticker) -- Jeff Ruland coached Iona to three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles and three trips to the NCAA Tournament. However, he was unable to survive a 2-28 campaign.

Ruland had the final two years of his contract bought out by the school on Tuesday.

Ruland originally signed an eight-year contract with the school in March 2001.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

"The negotiations could not have been more amicable," said Ruland's attorney, Rob Ades. "Iona has shown a great deal of respect for Jeff, and these feelings are mutual. I am sure that Jeff will always be a favorite son of Iona, and he certainly will always be a Gael at heart."

Iona lost its first 22 games and became the last Division I program to win a game when it beat Rider, 69-57, on February 3. Early-season injuries to two starters - Gary Springer Jr. and Kyle Camper - and the loss of St. John's transfer Dexter Gray due to academic problems helped doom the Gaels to a 2-28 season.

The previous season, Ruland guided the Gaels to a 23-8 record and a third MAAC title. They lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Louisiana State, which advanced to the Final Four.

Ruland, 48, compiled a 139-134 record in nine years at Iona, ranking second on the school's all-time list.

"Jeff Ruland has been a loyal Iona Gael as a student, player, coach and, more importantly, as a person," Iona president James Liguori said. "He will always have a place in Iona's rich tradition and history."