RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau announced Friday the university has hired Kerry Rupp as the 16th head coach in the history of the Bulldog basketball program.

Rupp?s hiring is pending approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.

Reneau made the announcement during a noon press conference held in the Hall of Fame Room of the Thomas Assembly Center located in the Louisiana Tech campus.

?I am excited about attracting Coach Kerry Rupp to come to our university,? Reneau said. ?I know he is the individual we need to lead us forward in men's basketball.?

Rupp comes to Louisiana Tech with impressive credentials after serving as the associate head coach under Mike Davis at Indiana (2004-2006) and at Alabama-Birmingham (2006-2007).

He also served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Rick Majerus at Utah (2000-04) and was the interim head coach of the Utes in 2004. Rupp was instrumental in Utah signing center Andrew Bogut, the eventual No. 1 pick of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

?I think the word that characterizes Kerry best of all is teacher,? Majerus said. ?He?s a teacher extraordinaire, and he knows how to impart his knowledge and help players become better.

?Kerry is a genuine guy who has a heartfelt concern for the players, and yet he remains a tough disciplinarian who demonstrated that he can get ? players to improve in the classroom, as well as on the court.?

Tech Athletic Director Jim Oakes said he felt like Louisiana Tech found the best person for the Bulldog vacancy.

?Coach Rupp is highly regarded in the coaching profession as an incredible recruiter,? Oakes said. ?I know he is a person of solid integrity with a real eagerness to become a successful head coach.?

Rupp, who served as the director of the Karl Malone Basketball Camps and executive director for the Karl Malone Foundation for Kids, was instrumental in leading the Utah Utes to three NCAA Tournaments, two Mountain West Championship and one NIT berth from 2000 through 2004.

?I?ve known Kerry for 23 years, and this is a long time coming,? Tech legend Karl Malone said. ?What he brings to the table I am certain will be successful.?

While serving as interim head coach in Majerus? absence in 2004, Rupp guided Utah to the Mountain West Tournament Championships ? the first in school history ? and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Utah ranked No. 5 in the nation that season in both scoring defense and rebounding margin.

Following that season, Rupp joined Davis as the associate head coach at Indiana where the Hoosiers gained a berth in the 2005 NIT and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2006.

"What a great hire for Louisiana Tech and the men's basketball program,? Davis said. ?Kerry Rupp is a terrific recruiter, mentor and coach. He has been around the game for a very long time, and he has been instrumental in the success we have had over the last several years. He knows the game just about as well as anyone I have been around, and he is going to be a great addition to Louisiana Tech."

Rupp continued serving on Mike Davis?s staff this past season at Alabama-Birmingham, where the Blazers fell by only five points to eventual national champion Florida in the Fed Ex Orange Bowl Classic in late December.
Prior to his college coaching career, Rupp proved a highly successful high school coach in Utah where he led East High School in Salt Lake City to a pair of Class 4A state championship appearances and four regional championships during his 10 year reign. In 1999, he was named the Utah High School Activities Association Coach of the Year.

Rupp earned his bachelor?s degree in exercise and sport science from
Southern Utah University in 1977.

He and his wife Lori have five daughters: Allie, Lindsey, Shelby,
Billie and Randie.