1st-time head coach eager to jump right in with Springdale boys

By: Andrew John
Saturday, November 23, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Scott Ruppert might have just taken his first head coaching job, but coaching has been in his blood since a young age, even if he didn’t realize it at the time.

Ruppert was named Springdale’s boys basketball coach in late October after Kobe Phillippi was hired to coach at Mars on Oct. 1. Phillippi, who was the Springdale coach since 2021, takes over for Rob Carmody, who stepped down after 26 years and 408 wins.

Springdale finished 14-8 overall last season and 5-7 in Section 3-2A play in Phillippi’s last season. The Dynamos just missed clinching the final playoff spot as they were swept by Serra Catholic and split with Clairton, who were the two teams that finished ahead of Springdale in the section.

“It’s a community of really good people and kids,” Ruppert said. “I’m really excited to be at the helm here. Our goal as a program is to compete at a high level and reach our maximum potential as individuals and as a team.

“As a first-year coach, I just want to see what these kids have got and for them to give it everything they can. We have a really tough section with some really tough teams. We are going to have to battle every game to make the playoffs and compete.”

Ruppert is the youngest son of the late Howie Ruppert, who was well-known for his time coaching at Northgate and Shaler. Howie Ruppert compiled 581 victories during his coaching career that first started in Staten Island, N.Y., where won 143 games at St. Peter’s High School.

Howie Ruppert also coached at the College of Staten Island and Seton Hall before coming to Pittsburgh to be an assistant at Duquesne University. Howie Ruppert was the head coach at Northgate before spending 12 years at Shaler, where he won 166 games.

Howie wasn’t the only coach in the Ruppert household when Scott was growing up. Scott’s mother Kris was a girls volleyball coach at Pine-Richland and Shaler.

“Growing up, without knowing it, I was surrounded by the love of communities, people and players. I lived in a gym. I met so many of my mom and dad’s former players and the stories they would share with me,” Scott Ruppert said.

“I got to look up to both of my parents and see how they impacted communities. They spent their lives pouring love into different communities and helped build up players into such great athletes and great human beings. I took it for granted. Once I heard those stories, it gave me the itch to do the same.”

Before taking the Springdale job, Scott Ruppert was an assistant coach at Allderdice the last three years and an assistant at Pine-Richland. Ruppert previously coached at Baldwin, North Allegheny and Deer Lakes.

Brian Gaetano, a former assistant under Howie Ruppert at Shaler, will join Scott Ruppert’s staff at Springdale.

Springdale averaged 62.7 points per game while allowing 49.8 last season.

The Dynamos will look to replace a senior class headlined by guard/forward John Hughes, forwards Mason Gent and Jackson Pribanic and guards Billy Lawrence and Chase Weihrauch.

Springdale will be part of the Section 1-2A this season with familiar section foes Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette, Clairton and Riverview. The Dynamos will now face Frazier and Bentworth in section play, while California moves up from Class A to join the section as well.

“Our goal is going to be getting up and down the floor as fast as possible,” Ruppert said. “We want high-scoring games. We want to be efficient. We want to play some good defense. We are going to be hard-nosed, tough. Every game is going to be a battle and we are going to get up and guard.”

The Dynamos will tip off their season Dec. 4 at Cornell. Springdale will take part in the Spartan Tip-Off Tournament where they will square off against host St. Joseph on Dec. 6.

Springdale boys at a glance

Coach: Scott Ruppert

Last year’s record: 14-8 (5-7 Section 3-2A)

Tags: Springdale