Warren Ruggiero - Football Coach - Bowling Green State University Athletics

Liberty

Sep 13 (Sat)

5 p.m.

Warren Ruggiero

Title:
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Email:
warrenr@bgsu.edu
Phone:
419-372-7082

All-MAC Performers Under Ruggiero: OL Jordon Roussos (2012, second-team), TE Alex Bayer (2012, third-team), OL Dominic Flewellyn (2012, third-team), WR Kamar Jorden (2011, first-team), OL Ben Bojicic (2011, third-team), WR Kamar Jorden (2010, first-team), RB Willie Geter (2010, third-team), WR Freddie Barnes (2009, first-team), TE Jimmy Scheidler (2009, second-team), QB Tyler Sheehan (2009, third-team), OL Shane Steffy (2009, third-team).

Warren Ruggiero begins his fifth year as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Bowling Green State University.

Since arriving at BGSU Ruggiero turned Tyler Sheehan into an All-MAC quarterback and has seen current starting quarterback Matt Schilz start 35 games, and could end his BGSU career as the all-time leader in school history in passing yards. Schilz was so impressive to start the 2011 season that the Manning Award added him to its “Watch List” midway through the season. Schilz finished the year with 3,024 yards, sixth-most in school history, along with 28 scores, second-most at BGSU.

While Schilz’s numbers were down in 2012, he improved his game management skills, helping the Falcons to an 8-5 record and their first bowl appearnce since 2009.

Ruggiero’s staple has been developing All-American and professional quarterbacks during his coaching career. While at Kansas State he developed Josh Freeman into a first round draft pick and current starter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and helped BGSU’s Tyler Sheehan to an NFL contract with the Houston Texans in 2009. Ruggiero also played a critical role in the development of Scott Riddle (CFL - Montreal), Anton Clarkson (New York Giants) Rocky Butler (CFL - Saskatchewan), and several other All-American quarterbacks.

Ruggiero has used those signal callers to record some of the most exciting offenses in the country over the past 15 years. In 2008 he and Freeman helped Kansas State to the 18th best passing offense in the country, while he and Sheehan led a unit that ranked first in the MAC and sixth nationally in passing yards per game (316.2) a year later. Sheehan finished the year completing 373 of 575 passes for 4,051 yards and 27 touchdowns, all career-bests under the guidance of Ruggiero. In fact, his 4,051 passing yards were only the second time in BGSU’s 90-year history that a Falcon quarterback had surpassed the 4,000 yard plateau.

Ruggiero also played a large role in helping wide receiver Freddie Barnes earn national honors, being named a Biletnikoff finalist, given to the country’s top wide receiver. In 2009 Barnes led the country in receptions (155) and touchdowns (19), while ranking second in yards (1,770). Barnes’ 155 catches smashed the previous NCAA mark (142) for catches in a season, previously held by Manny Hazzard (Houston) since 1989.

Prior to arriving at Kansas State, Ruggiero coached Scott Riddle, who went on to earn First-Team All-American honors, helping an offense to finish second in the country and ninth in scoring, while earning the Southern Conference Player of the Year. As a true freshman Riddle broke 27 school records en route to being named College Sporting News National Freshman of the Year and leading the country in total passing yards, passing yards per game and completions per game.

Prior to Elon, Ruggiero spent six years at Hofstra, serving the first two seasons (2000-01) as the recruiting coordinator/quarterbacks coach and the last four (2002-05) as the offensive coordinator.
While at Hofstra he coach Anton Clarkson (All-Conference) and Rocky Butler (All-American). Clarkson helped lead an offense that finished third in the country in passing and 10th in scoring offense. Butler earned First-Team All-American honors and was the runner-up for the Walter Payton Award for top I-AA player behind Brian Westbrook in 2001. That season Butler was third in the country in total offense and second in passing efficiency.

While still at Hofstra he recruited and coached future New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston, who was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2006.

To go along with his 18 years of offensive coordinator experience, Ruggiero was also the head coach at Glenville State College for two seasons (1997-98). While there, he led his team to the school’s first-ever NCAA Division-II playoff appearance and won the WVIAC Conference Championship. Ruggiero still owns the highest win percentage among all coaches in GSC’s history.

While at GSC he coached quarterback Wilkie Perez. Perez would earn Second-Team All-American honors, en route to breaking the Division-II record for most total yards in a season. That year the offense ranked first in the country in passing offense and passing efficiency and fourth in scoring.

Ruggiero, spent three seasons at Clarion, where he coached Chris Weibel, helping him to garner Second-Team All-American honors, helping his team to finish first in the country in scoring and second in passing efficiency.

Ruggiero has some Northwest Ohio ties, having served as the running backs coach, quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for Defiance for five seasons (1989-93). Ruggiero helped quarterback Jon Smith to earn All-American honors. Smith still currently holds records for pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns at Defiance.

Ruggiero and his wife, Jennifer, have one daughter, Emma.