Former Ohio State linebacker Jerry Rudzinski sports a passion for athletics
Jerry Rudzinski graduated with two degrees from Ohio State, and he has put both to good use.
The first was in finance, which helped launch his 23-year (and counting) career at Stryker Corporation where he has worked in sales and sales management.
The second?
"I got a Ph.D. in defense under guys like Fred Pagac, Jon Tenuta and John Cooper and Lovie Smith," the former Buckeye linebacker joked. "We had a wonderful staff, and I just learned so much about football."
Rudzinski parlayed that into a broadcasting gig at WBNS Radio, where he shared the lessons he learned from his graduate-level education on the gridiron.
"I'm either going to go to the neighborhood barbecue, or I'm going to sit behind a microphone, but either way, you're going to find me talking about sports. It's in my DNA," Rudzinski said. "I just like the people you come across in sports more than anything else. I feel like those are my people."
He spent 20 years as a broadcaster before he found a new role in the sports world: that of coach.
He donned whistle and clipboard and rose up the ranks with his son, Ryan, now 18 years old and in high school.
"Coaching Ryan has been one of the true highlights of my life," Rudzinski said. "I started coaching him in kindergarten in flag football. When he started tackle in fourth grade, I was the head coach of his team ... through his grade school years. Then four years ago, Brian Kennedy asked me to help with the linebackers at Watterson.
"I asked Ryan what he thought about it. I didn't want to accept that role without him blessing it because I didn't know if he wanted his dad around all the time. It's his experience, not mine."
It turns out that Ryan Rudzinski was keen on the idea of spending time with his dad. In fact, the whole family – Jerry, his wife, Marcia, and their six kids – all enjoy each other's company.
Mostly.
"There's a little bit of bickering. There's a little bit of laughter," Jerry Rudzinski said of the holidays. "There's a little bit of poking fun at each other, but it's been great. We do go through our share of groceries ... Yeah, we buy in bulk in the Rudzinski household."
He wants to continue coaching, but despite his competitive spirit, the 1994 OSU captain is no longer looking to rise up the ranks.
If any of his four daughters or his youngest son need a volunteer coach, on the other hand? Rudzinski vows to be the first in line.
Based on previous results, someone would be wise to take him up on this. Ryan Rudzinski finished his senior season as an all-district defensive back at Watterson with 36.5 tackles and 10 interceptions. He also combined for 18 touchdowns while splitting time between quarterback, running back and wide receiver; returned a kickoff for a score; and averaged 38.1 yards on 14 punts. He's now considering going to OSU as a preferred walk-on.
But as much as Ryan and the rest of Watterson's players may have benefited from Jerry's guidance, Jerry believes he benefitted even more.
"My first practice at Watterson, I was immediately floored by how respectful and coachable and how fun the kids were to be around," he said. "Anybody who's worried about this country's future, just go watch some high school football practices, and you'll immediately feel better."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jerry Rudzinski left Ohio State and became a radio broadcaster
