Athletics

Kris Ruffo, head coach of the Palm Beach State College women’s basketball team, has been named interim athletic director for the 2016-17 season. Ruffo officially begins the role today.

“I’m passionate about Palm Beach State and the athletic department,” said Ruffo. “We have a great staff in place – a veteran staff whose support of me accepting this position was overwhelming. I am a lifer when it comes to higher education intercollegiate athletics, and this is a wonderful opportunity.”

Along with the new role, Ruffo will keep her position as head coach of the women’s basketball team. Some of her goals as interim athletic director will be to raise awareness and funds for the athletic department, as well as provide a positive experience to all who encounter Palm Beach State athletics.

“We have tremendous programs, student athletes and coaches that deserve to be showcased,” said Ruffo.

Ruffo, who has had nearly 350 wins in her career, is entering her ninth season with the Panther women’s basketball team.

Ruffo has engineered a complete overhaul of the program since her arrival in 2008-09. The 2011-12 campaign proved to be a record setting year as the Panthers finished with an undefeated Southern Conference record of 10-0 (conference champions) and an overall record of 25-2, which was the best record in the history of the program. This included a 21 game winning streak and another trip to the “Final Four” of the Region 8 Tournament. The program has produced four seasons of 20+ wins under Ruffo’s leadership, and she has been voted Southern Conference Coach of the Year three times in her eight years.

Prior to her arrival to PBSC, Ruffo spent five years at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo, where her Knights posted an overall record of 82-55 and a conference record of 54-26.

Ruffo replaces David Holstein, who retired in July.