KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan University and new head men's basketball coach Dwayne Stephens have announced the addition of Jeff Rutter to the team's staff as an assistant coach.
 
"Jeff brings to the table a wealth of knowledge in all facets of college basketball," Stephens said. "In college basketball circles, Jeff is one of the most-respected and well-liked coaches in the game. He has a reputation for being a relentless recruiter, and will be a huge asset to our staff and our student-athletes."
 
Rutter arrives in Kalamazoo having spent the last five seasons at Miami University. During his time in Oxford, he helped guide the RedHawks to 70 wins and an appearance in the 2018 CBI.
 
Several Miami players earned All-MAC honors with Rutter on the Miami sidelines, including Darrian Ringo, an All-MAC Defensive Team honoree who was the only player in the country to finish in the top-10 in both steals and assists. Mekhi Lairy, Dae Dae Grant, Dalonte Brown and Nike Sibande were named to the All-Freshman Team, with Sibande also being named the MAC Freshman of the Year and becoming an All-Conference selection. Grant has also received All-MAC recognition, and Brown exceeded 1500 points and 800 rebounds in his career. MU also had seven Academic All-MAC performers during his tenure.
 
"I am thrilled to join Coach Stephens' staff and am looking forward to working with a talented group of young men," Rutter said. "I'm excited to help build upon the great tradition and success of Western Michigan basketball."
 
Before his time in Oxford, Rutter spent four seasons at Drake, primarily as an assistant coach. He then took over as the interim head coach for the Bulldogs for the remainder of the 2016-17 season. While at Drake, Rutter was the lead recruiter for the program's all-time leading scorer and three-time Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year Reed Timmer. Timmer also earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team. Rutter also helped the Bulldogs land First Team All-Conference selection Nick McGlynn, and recruited a group that led the nation with seven NABC Honors Court selections.
 
During his stint as interim head coach, Rutter helped Drake to a five-game home winning streak, its first win at Missouri State in 25 years, and a third-place finish in the MVC in scoring. The Bulldogs were also the top three-point shooting team in the league. 
 
Before his time at Drake, Rutter served for seven seasons on staff at Iowa State. While in Ames, he coached 13 All-Big 12 student-athletes and 32 players who went on to play professionally, including nine who reached the NBA. The Cyclones made a pair of NCAA Tournaments during his time there, and won their first-round game on both occasions. Rutter's first four seasons at Iowa State were as an assistant under Greg McDermott, before assuming the director of operations role under Fred Hoiberg.
 
After serving as a graduate assistant at North Dakota State from 1990-92, Rutter began his coaching career as a full-time assistant at NDSU from 1992-95. He helped the Bison win the 1995 NCC Championship and advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament in both 1994 and 1995.
 
Following his time at NDSU, he spent a season as an assistant at Stetson before becoming the head coach at University of Wisconsin-Parkside from 1996-03. Rutter then moved on to Northern Iowa for three seasons, where he helped the Panthers make three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, before following Coach McDermott to Iowa State.
 
Rutter and his wife, Shari, have a son, AJ, and daughter-in-law, Rachel.