Scott Rueck is known as much for his servant leadership as he is for the banners and awards he's helped produce as a basketball coach.

He first made his mark at George Fox University, where across 14 seasons he compiled a 288–88 record and captured the 2009 Division III National Championship with a perfect 32–0 season. He was named Division III National Coach of the Year that same year.

In 2010, Rueck returned to Oregon State (his alma mater) to take over a program so depleted it needed open tryouts to fill a roster. In just six years, he turned the Beavers into a national power. Since then, he’s guided Oregon State to three Pac-12 Championships, five Sweet Sixteens, three Elite Eights, and the program’s first-ever Final Four.

Along the way, he’s been honored five times as Pac-12 Coach of the Year, recognized as a multiple-time Naismith Coach of the Year finalist, and in 2024 was named ESPN’s National Coach of the Year Runner-Up after leading a team picked 10th in the preseason poll all the way to the Elite Eight.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:

[6:32] — Growing Up With Servant Leaders

[10:20] — Servant Leadership & The Arrival Fallacy

[13:13] — Evolving as a Coach

[18:24] — Balancing Patience and Urgency

[24:43] — Competing with Emotion vs. Emotionally

[28:14] — Learning Who I Am

[32:56] — Releasing Control & Letting Go

[41:37] — Coaching From A Space of Love

[47:25] — Love Creates Room for Courage

[52:53] — Faces Change, Mission Stays the Same

[57:20] — Staying Curious & Open to Learning

[1:09:35] — Showing Gratitude for Your People

[1:11:48] — I Will Never Sacrifice My Family

More Resources from Zach:

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If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/

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