Colorado University Athletics
Cartun, Ruebesam, Promoted To Assistant Coaches
September 07, 2023 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER – University of Colorado men's basketball staff members Bill Cartun and Zach Ruebesam have been promoted to assistant coaches, Buffaloes' head coach Tad Boyle announced Thursday.
In January, the NCAA Division I Council voted forward a proposal to increase the number of allowable coaches in men's and women's basketball from three to five which was subsequently approved by the Division I Board of Directors. The updated rule allows for two more coaches to engage in coaching activities and provide skill instruction on the court. The additions are still not allowed to recruit off campus as that number remains at four with the head coach and three assistants.
The rule officially went into effect on July 1 for the 2023-24 academic year.
"It's a win-win all the way around," Boyle said. "We've had guys like Bill and Zach, and those before them like Sean Kearney and Tom Abatemarco that have had important responsibilities in our program but could not coach on the floor. And for young coaches, it's really difficult to get experience, so this rule is going to allow a lot of young coaches to gain experience coaching on the floor."
Coach Cartun and coach Ruebesam will maintain the bulk of their current duties with the program, but the change allows them to be active with the players in a coaching role.
"It never ceases to amaze me how long it takes for the NCAA to recognize situations like this and how long it takes them to react and do the right thing," Boyle said. "This is an easy rule change; doesn't cost any more money. Their titles change and their responsibilities might change a little bit but it makes our players better, and it helps our coaches and their professional development."
Cartun is an original member of Boyle's staff, joining the program in 2010 as the coordinator of operations and the last 11 seasons as the director of operations. He continues overseeing the day-to-day operations of the basketball program along with coordinating all aspects of the team's film and video needs including scouting and game film.
"Bill is a little bit of an anomaly in our business, where he really enjoys his role and being part of Colorado basketball and not looking for 'greener pastures'," Boyle said. "His wife (Ashley) is a professor here at CU and they're raising their kids here in Colorado so it's nice to have him recognized and have additional responsibilities on his plate."
Ruebesam enters his third season on the Colorado staff, serving as director of player development the past two seasons. A Colorado native and CU Boulder graduate, Ruebesam was a student manager for the Buffaloes from 2012-16. He served as head coach of Team Colorado, CU's alumni entrant in the 2023 edition of The Basketball Tournament this summer.
"Zach's a young coach who does want to be a head coach and move up in this business," Boyle said. "This gives him the opportunity to add coaching to his resume, and he's going to be a great coach. He knows the game. He was a manager for us; knows our system.
"To have both of these guys on the floor is just going to do nothing but benefit our program and our players."
In January, the NCAA Division I Council voted forward a proposal to increase the number of allowable coaches in men's and women's basketball from three to five which was subsequently approved by the Division I Board of Directors. The updated rule allows for two more coaches to engage in coaching activities and provide skill instruction on the court. The additions are still not allowed to recruit off campus as that number remains at four with the head coach and three assistants.
The rule officially went into effect on July 1 for the 2023-24 academic year.
"It's a win-win all the way around," Boyle said. "We've had guys like Bill and Zach, and those before them like Sean Kearney and Tom Abatemarco that have had important responsibilities in our program but could not coach on the floor. And for young coaches, it's really difficult to get experience, so this rule is going to allow a lot of young coaches to gain experience coaching on the floor."
Coach Cartun and coach Ruebesam will maintain the bulk of their current duties with the program, but the change allows them to be active with the players in a coaching role.
"It never ceases to amaze me how long it takes for the NCAA to recognize situations like this and how long it takes them to react and do the right thing," Boyle said. "This is an easy rule change; doesn't cost any more money. Their titles change and their responsibilities might change a little bit but it makes our players better, and it helps our coaches and their professional development."
Cartun is an original member of Boyle's staff, joining the program in 2010 as the coordinator of operations and the last 11 seasons as the director of operations. He continues overseeing the day-to-day operations of the basketball program along with coordinating all aspects of the team's film and video needs including scouting and game film.
"Bill is a little bit of an anomaly in our business, where he really enjoys his role and being part of Colorado basketball and not looking for 'greener pastures'," Boyle said. "His wife (Ashley) is a professor here at CU and they're raising their kids here in Colorado so it's nice to have him recognized and have additional responsibilities on his plate."
Ruebesam enters his third season on the Colorado staff, serving as director of player development the past two seasons. A Colorado native and CU Boulder graduate, Ruebesam was a student manager for the Buffaloes from 2012-16. He served as head coach of Team Colorado, CU's alumni entrant in the 2023 edition of The Basketball Tournament this summer.
"Zach's a young coach who does want to be a head coach and move up in this business," Boyle said. "This gives him the opportunity to add coaching to his resume, and he's going to be a great coach. He knows the game. He was a manager for us; knows our system.
"To have both of these guys on the floor is just going to do nothing but benefit our program and our players."
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