Paul Ruiz
Asst. Defensive Line

Paul Ruiz begins his fourth season with McMurry’s football program and is the only coach left from the staff in 2008. Ruiz came on as a graduate assistant at the beginning of the 2006 season to coach defensive backs. In the off-season, he was promoted to the full-time defensive line coach under head coach Donny Gray.

Ruiz is familiar with Abilene; he was born in Abilene, attended Abilene High School and has coached at Hardin-Simmons as a graduate assistant as well. His first collegiate coaching stint came at his alma mater, Tarleton State.  He served as a student assistant for the 2003 and 2004 seasons and saw the Texans win the Lone Star Conference North Division Championship in 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Following his stay in Stephenville, he moved to Abilene and served as the graduate assistant for the Hardin-Simmons University secondary in 2005.

He graduated from Abilene High School in 1999 and received his undergraduate degree at Tarleton State in Exercise and Sports Studies in 2005. In May of 2007 he finished his master’s of education in Sports Management across town at Hardin-Simmons.

Ruiz has a daughter, Sara (10), and lives in Abilene.

Back