13 years ago Neumann Men’s Basketball began a NU Era
You might not always hear chatter about each team on Neumann’s campus but you definitely hear loads of it about Men’s Basketball.
Neumann Men’s Basketball has been a powerhouse for the last thirteen years in the conference (Atlantic East). Winning what is now five conference championships in nine appearances over this thirteen year span.
Over this thirteen year span, it has all been under the leadership of Head Coach Jim Rullo.
Rullo’s successes in basketball started way before his coaching days. Rullo had a four year playing career at Drexel University in Philadelphia. During his time at Drexel Rullo had averaged 7.3 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game and 2.3 assists as point guard for the Dragons.
After playing his four years, Rullo turned the page and began his life journey. While Rullo wasn’t coaching immediately following college he began to miss the game.
When asked how he began coaching Rullo said “I had started out in the business world but I knew something was missing.” Rullo missed the camaraderie and the competition the most.
So Rullo began coaching as an assistant for the local high school to see if that was something he wanted to do full time. Then Rullo began his journey.
Rullo spent a year as an assistant coach at his Alma Mater, Drexel University. Then Hobart for two years as an assistant coach; then came back to coach at his former high school, Malvern Prep.
After seven years at Malvern Prep a job in Aston, Pennsylvania opened up. Rullo quickly jumped on the opportunity and got the title of Neumann University Men’s Basketball Head Coach.
When Rullo took over the program was not a power house in conference like it is now. Though it was not a bad program either. The program had to be shaped and that’s what Rullo did.
As a coach Rullo expects a lot from his players as men, as students and as basketball players. When asked what he expects from his players Rullo said “Just to be good people and work hard”
Then Rullo added “we (as a coaching staff) have done a pretty good job of bringing in student athletes who understand it’s a we before I mentality” then stated “I will always subscribe to the adage that all the individual accolades will be a byproduct to the teams success”.
And the team has had success. Rullo has led the program to yet another conference championship win and has coached yet another conference player of the year in Donte Dupriest (back to back years).
On Friday March 6th, Neumann heads north to Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts for an NCAA Division III first round match up (64 team tournament single elimination). Last year, Neumann had a heartbreaking loss to Trinity who went on to win the National Championship.
Rullo’s message to the team this year against Endicott is “they have all the pressure. We have none.”
So through all his success Coach Rullo has stayed grounded and proved all the people who laughed at him and mocked him for taking over a struggling program wrong by turning it around and making it a winning program and a feared program within the AEC.
Now, Neumann leaves the AEC to join the MAC and coach Rullo has no doubt that his team’s success will remain the same regardless of what conference they are in; Rullo truly believes that this Friday this group of young men can pull off a March Madness upset and shock the DIII world.
