Charles Ruch (2020) - Hall of Fame - Boise State University Athletics

Charles Ruch

Induction:
2020

Dr. Ruch (pronounced “ROOK”) became Boise State University’s fifth president in 1993 and served in that capacity until 2003. Among his successes at Boise State, Dr. Ruch was instrumental in the Broncos making the leap to the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as NCAA Division I-A). After accepting Boise State’s invitation to join the Big West Conference, Dr. Ruch wrote to the campus community of the move, “Student recruitment, faculty identification and alumni affiliation will benefit over the long term. Our goal is to position BSU for a major leadership role in higher education in the West as we approach the 21st century. Our move to the Big West is one of a number of strategies designed to accomplish this goal.” Dr. Ruch went on to oversee the construction of the University Village, Children’s Center, Multi-purpose Classroom facility, Micron Engineering Center, Harry W. Morrison Civil Engineering, Gateway Center, Student Recreation Center and expansions to Albertsons Library, the Student Union Building and Albertsons Stadium. Before the end of his presidency, Boise State had moved to the Western Athletic Conference and doubled its athletic budget. University enrollment grew 14 percent during Dr. Ruch’s tenure as president. In 2017, the engineering building was named after Dr. Ruch.