Former Western Illinois offensive coordinator Doug Ruse and Missouri Southern head coach Bart Tatum have joined Sam Houston's football staff as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, respectively.

Ruse has served as Western Illinois' offensive coordinator the past two seasons and previously coached at Arkansas State, Northwestern State and Missouri State. Tatum has been head coach at Missouri Southern for the past six seasons.

"I want to surround myself with quality people and I want guys that are in this business for the right reason, which is the molding of young men," Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz said. "Also, I want guys who are outstanding coaches, not just X's and O's, but technique and fundamentals. I think it will be good to bounce ideas off of those guys. Plus, I needed guys who were flexible enough to come into a system that's already in place and adapt to us."

During his stint with Western Illinois, Ruse worked closely with quarterback Matt Barr, who was the Walter Payton Award runner-up in 2010 after throwing for 3,410 yards and 27 touchdowns with 449 rushing yards.

With Ruse in charge of the offense, the Leathernecks amassed 5,944 offensive yards with 32.5 points per game and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2010.
The Leathernecks set unprecedented numbers in passing and total yards as the squad advanced to the NCAA Playoffs for the first time in seven years. Western's offense set new standards in passing yards (3,367/13th nationally) and total yards (5,713/3rd nationally) while also leading the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) in scoring offense (32.5 points/11th nationally) and passing efficiency (149.19/7th nationally).

Prior to joining the Leathernecks, Ruse coached eight years at Arkansas State. Ruse also served as the quarterbacks coach in addition to his coordinator duties. Ruse mentored several All-Sun Belt Conference quarterbacks including 2007 Davey O'Brien semifinalist Corey Leonard.

In 2009, the Redwolves scored 20 or more points six times, including a season-high 61 in the season-opening win against Mississippi Valley State. Five of the team's eight losses last year were by eight points or less, including losses at Iowa and Louisville.

During his tenure, Ruse saw program records fall including most passing yards and touchdowns in a game and total yards in one season (4,786), breaking a 57-year old record. The year prior, ASU set a single-game record for total yards and finished with the second-most yardage in a season to that point. In 2006, ASU ranked second in rushing offense among Sun Belt Conference leaders posting three 400-yard games of total offense and recording 300-plus yards eight times.

Ruse spent eight years at Northwestern State serving in the same capacity. During his tenure several Demons set single-game, season and career passing and scoring records.

A graduate of Northwest Missouri State (1986 and '88), Ruse joined the coaching staff after graduation. For two years he served as a graduate assistant, then joined the staff in a full-time capacity. In 1990, he was named offensive coordinator.

Ruse is married to the former Sandy Gallagher. The couple has a son, Adam, and two daughters, Megan and Whitney.

Tatum returns to Sam Houston State where he earned his Master's degree while serving as a graduate assistant in 1992 and 1993. While head coach at Missouri Southern, Tatum led the Lions to their first winning season in 11 years.

Under Tatum, the Lions produced the nation's best receiver in 2006 in Colin Bado as Bado led Division II in receptions per game, racking up eight per contest. 2006 also saw the highest drafted Lion in program history as senior offensive tackle Allen Barbre went to the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. The Lions also have maneuvered themselves into being one of the top defensive programs in the MIAA, leading the league in total defense in 2007, as well as pass defense in both 2007 and 2008.

As offensive coordinator at Northwest Missouri State, Tatum mentored under one of the top coaches in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association history Mel Tjeerdsma, the second-winningest coach in MIAA history. Tatum helped direct the Bearcats to seven MIAA titles, eight NCAA Division II postseason appearances, three NCAA-II national title game appearances and two national championships.

The Bearcats went 118-35 during Tatum's stay. He coached the Northwest offensive line for 10 seasons and served as recruiting coordinator for five years. Tatum was promoted to assistant head coach prior to the 2002 season, and he added the titles of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach prior to the 2004 campaign.

Under Tatum's guidance in 2004, the Bearcats fielded the nation's second-ranked scoring offense and the No. 10 total offense. His charges ranked No. 21 nationally in rushing offense and 31st in passing offense. In 2005, Northwest ranked 23rd in the nation in passing offense. Tatum was named the 2001 NCAA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

From 1997-2002, Tatum had eight offensive linemen earn All-America honors and at least one first-team all-conference offensive lineman every year from 1997-2003. Three offensive linemen were also NFL signees, including Seth Wand, a third-round draft selection in 2003 of the Houston Texans. While coordinating the Bearcats' running game, Tatum had five consecutive 1000-yard rushers, including Jesse Haynes, who piled up more than 1800 yards in 1996. Tatum also called the plays as the Bearcats' offensive coordinator in 2004 and 2005. In those years, Northwest was second in the country in scoring and in the top ten in total offense. In 2005, Northwest won four consecutive playoff road games en route to the National Championship game where quarterback Josh Lambertson was named the game's MVP in a 21-17 loss to Grand Valley State.

Tatum served at Austin College as a graduate assistant coach on Tjeerdsma's staff, leading the running backs for eight months and the defensive line for one year. During his five years at Austin, the 'Roos made two national playoff appearances and posted a 31-18-3 overall record.

He moved on as a graduate assistant on coach Ron Randleman's staff at Sam Houston State, where he coached Bearkat tight ends in 1992 and defensive ends in 1993. While with SHSU, Tatum coached John Solomon, a defensive end and eventual fifth-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1995.

Tatum played college football for Tjeerdsma at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. At Austin, Tatum was an All-Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association running back and, in 1988, he won the TIAA rushing title and set the school record for rushing touchdowns.

Tatum earned a bachelor's degree from Austin College in 1991 in both history and physical education. Tatum earned his first of two master's degrees from Austin in 1992 in teaching. He collected his second master's in kinesiology in 1993 from Sam Houston State. Tatum also earned a doctorate in 2002 in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri.

As a high school player at Cooper High School, Tatum twice rushed for more than 1,000 yards and earned all-district honors on both sides of the football. He and his wife, Rachel, an elementary school teacher, have three sons, Alec, Miles and Matthew