Mirroring the attributes of his head coach
Ted Van Dellen,
Dennis Ruedinger was known for his fierce competitiveness and drive to succeed when he wore a UW-Oshkosh men's basketball uniform in the mid-1990s.
Ruedinger, who came to UW-Oshkosh from Neenah High School, played in 105 games, including 94 as a starter. He closed his career with 1,595 points and left as the school's fourth-leading scorer. His 227 three-point field goals were the most in UW-Oshkosh history, while his 298 assists listed third. Ruedinger was a part of 73 wins, which at the time was the most in UW-Oshkosh annals.
In 1993, Ruedinger didn't wait long to turn heads in the WIAC as he had his best season at the free-throw line when he shot 89 percent (85-96). That accuracy, along with his 10 points per game in 25 contests, helped him win the WIAC Freshman Player of the Year Award. The Titans posted a 14-11 mark, including a fourth-place result in the conference.
In his sophomore season of 1994, Ruedinger started 21 games and earned All-WIAC Honorable Mention. He compiled averages of 17 points and three rebounds per game. UW-Oshkosh put together a 14-11 record while Ruedinger connected on 41 percent of his tries from beyond the three-point arc. In a 76-71 triumph over The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.), he buried five three-point shots and compiled 25 points.
Ruedinger received a medical redshirt in 1995 after suffering an injury in the fifth game of the year. He made his brief appearance count, amassing marks of 22 points and four rebounds per game. Ruedinger hit half of his long-range tries during the campaign and scored at least 24 points in three of the five contests.
After recovering from his injury, Ruedinger's 1996 season featured a great deal of individual and team success. The Titans finished with a 23-4 record and made their first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Ruedinger led UW-Oshkosh with 100 assists while contributing 16 points and five rebounds per game. He totaled 26 points and seven rebounds in a 79-73 win over UW-La Crosse.
UW-Oshkosh went 13-3 during WIAC play to earn second place in 1996. The Titans captured a 79-74 win over Simpson College (Iowa) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling, 61-60 in double overtime, to Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.). Ruedinger capped the 1996 season by being named to the NCAA Division III All-America First Team. He also was honored as the NCAA Division III West Region Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-WIAC first team.
During his senior campaign in 1997, Ruedinger earned NCAA Division III All-West Region and All-WIAC first team distinctions. He led the team with 16 points per game as UW-Oshkosh posted a 19-7 overall record. The Titans placed second in the league and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
Starting all 26 contests, Ruedinger also racked up a team-best 93 assists while averaging four rebounds per game. He also knocked down 49 percent of his three-point attempts and 84 percent of his free throws tries from the charity stripe. During a 73-71 victory over UW-Stout, Ruedinger posted a school-record 22 consecutive points for UW-Oshkosh as he tallied a career-high 33.
Ruedinger, a 1998 UW-Oshkosh graduate, lives in Oshkosh with his wife, Kellie, and children, Preston and Delaney. Ruedinger, who is the owner and president of DNR Enterprises, is also the head boys' basketball coach at Oshkosh Lourdes High School. In 2004, he guided the Knights to a second-place finish in the WIAA Division 4 State Tournament.
