Travis RuttThe 29-year-old Rutt brings solid mat experience from two top-notch programs: As a 184-pounder at the University of Wisconsin ... then moving up to 197 for the University of Oklahoma. Since 2014, RCTC has won three non-scholarship national championships in 2014, 2017 and this past year.
Now Rutt is ready to take the next step up in his career ... and the 43-year-old Rager thinks Rutt is more than ready, saying, "RCTC wrestling is good right now," Rager said. "But Travis is going to make it even better."
"It's his demeanor and just the way he is with the guys," Rager said. "Recruiting wise, he's done a great job here. He is easy to get along with."
Rutt is a high school graduate of Jackson County Central, though he began at New Prague. His high school wrestling career spanned six years, Rutt making it to state in all of them and winning Minnesota state titles twice.
Rutt has been an assistant coach at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Augsburg College in Minneapolis, the University of Oklahoma (graduate assistant) and the University of Iowa, where he was the wrestling program's strength and conditioning coach before joining Rager's staff.
Now, it is his turn to be a head coach. He's off to a nice start, with 16-18 new RCTC recruits set to join the 13-14 wrestlers returning to the program. It's a different feel than last year, when RCTC returned just a handful of wrestlers from the year before.
Rutt would still love a replay of the previous season. Not only did the Yellowjackets finish as national champions, but Rutt had the time of his life.
"That was the most fun I've ever had in coaching," Rutt said. "Watching the development of these guys through the year was so fun. Guys bought in. They realized the work they put in would pay off in the back end. We had a lot of fun, with a balanced lifestyle socially, academically and athletically. It all fed off the other."
Rutt is primed for a successful second season at RCTC.
Now, it is Rutt's turn to see what he can do. Rager, who will be acting as an assistant for him, is optimistic.
"RCTC wrestling is good right now," Rager said. "But Travis is going to make it even better."
"It's his demeanor and just the way he is with the guys," Rager said. "Recruiting wise, he's done a great job here. He is easy to get along with."
"It's his demeanor and just the way he is with the guys," Rager said. "Recruiting wise, he's done a great job here. He is easy to get along with."
Rutt's plan is to keep building on what Rager's already established at RCTC. He has a sense of what goes into coaching at the junior college level, having served as Rager's assistant the last two years.
Rutt had college wrestling coaching experience prior to landing at RCTC two years ago, where he's employed as its Student Life Coordinator, helping organize campus events.
Rutt has been an assistant coach at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Augsburg College in Minneapolis, the University of Oklahoma (graduate assistant) and the University of Iowa , where he was the wrestling program's strength and conditioning coach before joining Rager's staff.
Now, it is his turn to be a head coach. He's off to a nice start, with 16-18 new RCTC recruits set to join the 13-14 wrestlers returning to the program. It's a different feel than last year, when RCTC returned just a handful of wrestlers from the year before.
Still, he'd love a repeat of last season. Not only did the Yellowjackets finish as national champions, but Rutt had the time of his life.
"That was the most fun I've ever had in coaching," Rutt said. "Watching the development of these guys through the year was so fun. Guys bought in. They realized the work they put in would pay off in the back end. We had a lot of fun, with a balanced lifestyle socially, academically and athletically. It all fed off the other."
For all these reasons, Travis Rutt is primed for a successful second season at RCTC.
Founded in 1915, Rochester Community and Technical College is located in southeastern Minnesota. It serves appropriately 8,000 students each year.
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