It is with great sadness that Carthage College confirms the unexpected passing of Coach Tim Rucks. Coach Rucks passed away on Tuesday, March 10. The Kenosha Police Department found him unconcious in his vehicle north of campus. The police believe the incident was due to a medical emergency.All who had the pleasure of knowing and working with Coach Rucks felt the depth of his commitment to Carthage. Coach Rucks led the Carthage football program during a wonderful 18-year career as Carthage's head coach. For the past two years, Tim served as an assistant athletic director and academic advisor. His mentoring and leadership impacted thousands of our students over the years, and his presence on our campus will be greatly missed.Carthage College director of athletics Bob Bonn remembered his colleague and friend by saying, "I spoke with Tim Rucks almost every day since January 16, 1995, the day that I hired him as the Carthage Head Football Coach. Tim gave every ounce of his energy, talent, and enthusiasm to the football program, the athletics department and most importantly to the students, over his 20-year Carthage career. He taught us all how to be compassionate, how to treat people, and how to care about others. He was one of the kindest people I have or will ever know. This is a terrible loss for the Rucks and Carthage families and we will miss him with all of our hearts."Coach Rucks was named American Football Coaches Association North Region "Coach of the Year," as well as College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin "Bob Reade Football Coach of the Year" in 2004 with an 11-2 conference-championship team that reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Football Championship. He was also named Wisconsin Private College "Football Coach of the Year" in 2009. From 1990 to 1994, he was the head coach at North Park University, also in the College Conference of Illinois Wisconsin. In five years at North Park, he increased the size of the football squad from 21 to 91 players, and his 1993 team's 4-4-1 record was North Park's best finish in 25 years.Born on Dec. 21, 1960, Coach Rucks was a native of Waukegan, Illinois, attended Waukegan West High School, and played four years of football at Carthage under head coach Art Keller. As a senior in 1982, he was named first-team All-CCIW offensive tackle. He graduated in 1983 with a double major in English and political science. Coach Rucks was selected in the third round by the Denver Gold in the inaugural United States Football League draft before signing as a free agent with the National Football League's New York Jets.From 1986 to 1988, Coach Rucks served as an assistant football coach at Niles North High School in suburban Chicago. He was named an assistant football coach at North Park in 1989 before the college promoted him to head coach prior to the 1990 season. Coach Rucks received his master's in college administration from Northeastern Illinois University in 1994.The College is currently in the process of planning a candlelight vigil for the community to come together to mourn the loss of our friend and colleague. Details will be forthcoming. Additional information about funeral services will be provided as soon as they become available. Carthage flags will fly at half-staff for the next three days in honor of our colleague.The Carthage community asks everyone to join us in extending our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Tim's family, friends, and colleagues. His valued contributions to the College are beyond measure and we, as Carthaginians, will always honor his memory.A memorial service for Rucks will be held at the Carthage Chapel on Saturday, March 14 at 3 p.m., with visitation beginning at 1 p.m.If you would like to share a thought or memory, we invite you to use this form . Carthage will share all contributions with Tim's family, and select comments will be including in future materials honoring Coach Rucks' memory.