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Rusty LaRue
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Rusty LaRue (born December 10, 1973) is an American basketball coach and former professional player. He was a multi-sport athlete who played basketball, baseball, and football at Wake Forest University. LaRue played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors. He won an NBA championship with the Bulls in 1998.
Key Information
LaRue began his coaching career after his playing retirement in 2004. He was an assistant coach for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball team under head coaches Dino Gaudio and Jeff Bzdelik from 2009 to 2014. He served as the head coach of the West Forsyth High School basketball team since 2015. LaRue retired from coaching in 2019 and is now the Chief Operations Officer of Dairi-O Restaurants.
High school and college
[edit]LaRue attended Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where, in addition to being an honors student, he earned All-State honors in baseball, basketball, and football. As a senior in 1991, he was named North Carolina Athlete of the Year, and he attracted the attention of many colleges before choosing to attend Wake Forest, where he planned to play both basketball and football in the ACC. LaRue also played collegiate baseball for one season, becoming just the second player in ACC history to play three sports in the same year. He was 1 of only 4 players to beat Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium all four years, the others being Tim Duncan, Tyler Hansbrough, and Danny Green.[citation needed]
LaRue arguably had his most collegiate success on the football field. As a freshman quarterback in 1992, he was a member of Wake Forest's football team that took home an Independence Bowl victory, and during his senior year he broke eight NCAA records for passing, including the record for most completions in one game (55). However, LaRue was a solid basketball player, as well, as he helped his teammates reach the NCAA Tournament for four consecutive seasons. He also finished second in school history in three-point field goals made, and he finished first all-time in three-point field goal percentage.
Professional playing career
[edit]After college, LaRue decided to focus exclusively on basketball because there were more opportunities to play professionally.[1] Though he was not drafted by an NBA team, he earned a spot on the Chicago Bulls' roster in 1997 after honing his craft in the minor leagues for one season. During the 1997–98 NBA season, LaRue averaged 3.5 points per game in limited playing time and earned an NBA Championship ring in the process. He would receive more minutes during the next season after Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Steve Kerr left the team, and he averaged 4.7 points and 1.5 assists per game while making 33.7% of his three-point field goal attempts. However, the Bulls cut ties with LaRue during the 1999–2000 NBA season as they continued their post-dynasty rebuilding process. He returned to the minor leagues and was selected to the All-Continental Basketball Association (CBA) Second Team while playing for the Idaho Stampede in 2000.[2] He signed with the Russian team CSKA Moscow in 2000.
After a year in Russia, LaRue returned to America and briefly played for the NBA's Utah Jazz during the 2001–02 NBA season (signed January 28, 2002[3]) before going back to the European leagues, where he joined the Italian team Pallacanestro Varese. In 2003, he returned to the NBA, this time as a member of the Boston Celtics, but he was waived before appearing in a regular season game; he would appear in four games for the Golden State Warriors towards the end of the season.
Coaching career
[edit]LaRue served as head men's basketball coach at Greensboro College in 2004–05 and later was athletics director and basketball coach at Forsyth Country Day School in Winston-Salem.
In 2009, he re-joined the Wake Forest men's basketball program as an assistant coach under Dino Gaudio.[4] He was retained as an assistant by new head coach Jeff Bzdelik in 2010. He was released by Wake Forest's new coach, Danny Manning in 2014.
On June 30, 2015, LaRue was named the new men's basketball coach at West Forsyth High School. West Forsyth was attended by Chris Paul, another former Wake Forest player. LaRue retired from coaching in 2019 and is now the Chief Operations Officer of Dairi-O Restaurants.
NBA career statistics
[edit]| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won an NBA championship |
Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98† | Chicago | 14 | 0 | 10.0 | .408 | .250 | .625 | .6 | .4 | .2 | .1 | 3.5 |
| 1998–99 | Chicago | 43 | 6 | 17.0 | .359 | .337 | 1.000 | 1.3 | 1.5 | .8 | .1 | 4.7 |
| 1999–00 | Chicago | 4 | 1 | 32.3 | .349 | .143 | .714 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.8 | .0 | 9.3 |
| 2001–02 | Utah | 33 | 0 | 16.4 | .395 | .340 | .857 | 1.5 | 2.2 | .5 | .2 | 5.8 |
| 2003–04 | Golden State | 4 | 0 | 5.5 | .333 | 1.000 | .500 | .8 | .5 | .5 | .0 | 1.0 |
| Career | 98 | 7 | 16.0 | .376 | .318 | .841 | 1.3 | 1.6 | .6 | .1 | 5.0 |
Playoffs
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Utah | 4 | 0 | 13.3 | .375 | .400 | .600 | 1.5 | 1.5 | .2 | .0 | 5.0 |
| Career | 4 | 0 | 13.3 | .375 | .400 | .600 | 1.5 | 1.5 | .2 | .0 | 5.0 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Talking with Wake Forest legend Rusty LaRue". Basketinside.com.
- ^ "Rusty LaRue minor league basketball statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ Handing out postseason awards
- ^ LaRue joins Wake Forest basketball staff Archived 2009-05-15 at the Wayback Machine
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from NBA.com · Basketball Reference
- Official site
- Wake Forest profile
- NBDL stats at Basketball-Reference
Rusty LaRue
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
High school career
Rusty LaRue was born on December 10, 1973, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and developed his athletic talents at Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, where he participated in basketball, football, and baseball as a multi-sport standout.[1][5] An honors student throughout his high school years, LaRue earned All-State honors in all three sports during his senior year, showcasing his versatility and athletic prowess.[8] In basketball, LaRue played as a shooting guard and averaged 25 points per game as a senior in the 1991-92 season, accumulating 1,000 career points while leading the Vikings in scoring.[9] His scoring ability and court vision made him a key contributor to the team's offensive efforts, earning him All-Conference recognition and drawing attention from college scouts. On the football field, LaRue excelled as the starting quarterback, throwing for 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns in his senior year, which helped guide Northwest Guilford to a 12-1 record.[9] In baseball, he pitched effectively with a career record of 10-1 and an impressive 0.67 ERA, including a no-hitter during his junior season that highlighted his control and dominance on the mound.[9] LaRue's exceptional performances across sports culminated in him being named the NCHSAA Male Athlete of the Year for the 1991-92 academic year, recognizing his overall impact and leadership at Northwest Guilford.[10][11] His high school achievements attracted recruitment interest from multiple universities, leading him to commit to Wake Forest, where he planned to continue in both basketball and football.[12][5]College career
LaRue enrolled at Wake Forest University in 1992, where he pursued a degree in computer science, graduating in 1996.[13] Academically, he earned All-ACC honors, the ACC Scholarship Award, an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, and was named Wake Forest's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1995.[4] As a multi-sport athlete, LaRue lettered in basketball, football, and baseball, becoming the first Wake Forest player to achieve this distinction since 1952 and the second in ACC history to compete in all three sports during the same season as a junior in 1994–95.[4][12] In football, he played quarterback from 1992 to 1995, starting as a senior when he led the ACC with 2,775 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes while completing 264 of 421 attempts.[14] In baseball, he appeared in one game in 1995 as a pitcher, throwing three scoreless innings to earn a save.[4] In basketball, LaRue played point guard for the Demon Deacons from 1992 to 1996, appearing in 107 games with career averages of 6.2 points, 1.0 assist, and 1.9 rebounds per game.[15] His scoring improved each year, culminating in a senior season average of 10.1 points and 1.9 assists in 32 games, during which he led the ACC in true shooting percentage at 66.0% and made 65 three-pointers.[15][16] Notable performances included a game-tying three-pointer against North Carolina in the 1994 ACC Tournament and multiple three-pointers in a 1995 regular-season win over Duke.[17][18] LaRue contributed to team successes, including back-to-back ACC Tournament championships in 1995 and 1996, along with NCAA Tournament appearances in 1994, 1995, and 1996.[4] Following his college career, LaRue went undrafted in the 1996 NBA Draft but signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls in 1997 after one season in the minor leagues.[19]Professional playing career
NBA career
LaRue went undrafted in the 1996 NBA draft after a standout college career at Wake Forest but earned a training camp invitation and ultimately secured a spot on the Chicago Bulls roster for the 1997–98 season as an undrafted free agent. Prior to joining the Bulls, he briefly played one game for the Idaho Stampede of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).[6][1][20] During his initial stint with the Bulls from 1997 to 2000, LaRue served primarily as a backup point guard behind stars like Michael Jordan and Steve Kerr, appearing in limited minutes early on. In the 1997–98 season, he played in 14 regular-season games, averaging 3.5 points and 0.4 assists per game, and was part of the roster during the team's championship playoff run, though without logging postseason minutes.[1][21] That year, the Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals to claim their sixth championship in eight seasons, earning LaRue a championship ring as a member of the roster.[22] In the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, his role expanded to 43 games with 6 starts, where he averaged 4.7 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 rebounds per game, providing depth amid the team's transitional phase following Jordan's retirement. He also earned All-CBA Second Team honors that year after leading the CBA in assists while playing for the Idaho Stampede before rejoining the Bulls in December.[1] His time with Chicago concluded in the 1999–2000 season with just 4 appearances, averaging 9.3 points in 32.3 minutes per game before being waived.[1] After being waived, LaRue played overseas in Russia with CSKA Moscow in the 2000–01 season before returning to minor league basketball. In 2001, he again earned All-CBA Second Team honors with the Connecticut Pride. LaRue then returned to the NBA, signing a brief contract with the Utah Jazz for the 2001–02 season. There, he appeared in 33 games off the bench, averaging 5.8 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game while supporting John Stockton and earning rotation minutes during the regular season.[1] LaRue also saw limited playoff action with the Jazz, playing in 4 games during their first-round loss to the Sacramento Kings, where he averaged 5.0 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game.[23] LaRue's final NBA appearance came in the 2003–04 season with the Golden State Warriors, where he played in 4 games, averaging 1.0 point in 5.5 minutes per game before being released.[1] Over his five-season NBA career spanning 98 regular-season games, LaRue averaged 5.0 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 rebounds per game, primarily as a reserve contributor.[1] He transitioned to full-time international play thereafter, marking the end of his NBA tenure.International career
After limited playing time in the NBA, LaRue sought greater opportunities abroad to secure more consistent minutes and a prominent role on the court.[24] In the 2000–01 season, he joined CSKA Moscow of the Russian Super League, where he appeared in 29 games during the regular season, averaging 8.8 points, 2.9 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 41.9% from three-point range.[25] In the SuproLeague, he contributed 7.0 points per game across 23 contests, including a career-high 24 points against Kalev/Cramo.[25] His performance helped CSKA navigate a competitive schedule, though the team did not secure a league title that year. Following a brief NBA return with the Utah Jazz in 2001–02, LaRue moved to Metis Varese in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A for the 2002–03 campaign. There, he played 23 regular-season games, averaging 9.7 points and 2.0 assists in 24.3 minutes per game, with a 40.0% three-point shooting clip that highlighted his shooting prowess.[26] In the ULEB EuroCup, he excelled further, posting 13.3 points per game over six appearances on 43.6% three-point accuracy, though his output dipped to 3.0 points in the playoffs amid reduced minutes.[26] LaRue's international stints provided a contrast to the NBA's intensity, emphasizing adaptation to longer European seasons and diverse playing styles, before he returned stateside for his final NBA season with the Golden State Warriors in 2003–04 and retired from professional basketball thereafter.[1]Coaching career
College coaching
Following his retirement from professional basketball in 2004, Rusty LaRue began his college coaching career as head coach of the Greensboro College Pride men's basketball team in the NCAA Division III USA South Athletic Conference.[27] In his lone season (2004–05), the team posted a 10–15 overall record and a 6–6 mark in conference play, finishing in the middle of the standings.[27] LaRue mentored key players including forward Rodney Blackstock, who earned first-team All-USA South honors and second-team NCCSIA All-State recognition, while guard Daron Williams received honorable mention All-Conference accolades and ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District first-team honors.[27] After a period away from collegiate coaching, LaRue returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in May 2009, serving under head coaches Dino Gaudio (2009–11) and Jeff Bzdelik (2011–14).[28] Drawing on his own standout playing career at Wake Forest, where he set school records in assists and steals, LaRue focused on recruiting, player development, and offensive strategies during his five-year tenure.[4] He played a key role in assembling strong recruiting classes, including Wake Forest's No. 12-ranked class nationally by ESPN in 2010, featuring four ESPN 100 signees such as forward Travis McKie and guard CJ Williams.[29] The 2012 class, ranked No. 15 by ESPN, included forward Devin Thomas and center Arnaud William Adala Moto, bolstering the program's depth.[30] LaRue's efforts contributed to Wake Forest's competitive success in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), including a first-round loss in the 2010 ACC Tournament as the No. 5 seed to Miami (FL). The program made an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2010 (as a No. 9 seed, losing in the first round to Texas in overtime). In player development, LaRue helped nurture talents like McKie, who became a two-time All-ACC selection and briefly played in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns. His tenure emphasized skill refinement for guards and wings, aligning with Wake Forest's up-tempo offensive style that averaged 72.8 points per game in 2009–10.[31] LaRue departed Wake Forest following the 2013–14 season.[10]High school coaching
After concluding his tenure as an assistant coach at Wake Forest University, Rusty LaRue returned to high school basketball as head coach of the boys' team at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina, beginning in the 2015–16 season.[10] Prior to this role, he had served as head basketball coach and athletic director at Forsyth Country Day School in Lewisville, North Carolina, from 2006 to 2009, where he also coached football.[4] During his three seasons at West Forsyth, LaRue compiled an overall record of 52–30, guiding the Titans through competitive play in the Central Piedmont 4A Conference.[32] The team achieved notable postseason success, including a run to the final four in the North Carolina Prep Hoops postseason tournament in 2017, bolstered by standout players such as five-star football recruit KJ Henry and guard Cooper LaRue.[33] LaRue's emphasis on player growth was evident in developing versatile athletes, with several team members advancing to collegiate programs in basketball and other sports.[34] LaRue resigned from his position at West Forsyth in February 2018 to focus on family and business commitments, marking the end of his high school head coaching career.[35] His time at both schools highlighted a commitment to youth development in a community-oriented setting, drawing on his multi-sport background to foster fundamentals and adaptability among players.[4]Post-basketball career
Business roles
Following his departure from the Wake Forest University coaching staff in spring 2014, Rusty LaRue joined the management team of Dairi-O Restaurants, a North Carolina-based casual dining chain specializing in hot dogs and ice cream, while continuing to coach at the high school level until his full retirement from coaching in 2019. This pivot was facilitated by a connection made at a men's breakfast event, where he met the company's owner, leading to his initial role as owner/operator beginning in November 2014.[36][3] LaRue advanced to Chief Operating Officer (COO) in March 2018, overseeing daily operations, expansion strategies, and team management across the chain's locations in the Triad region and beyond. Under his leadership, Dairi-O grew from eight restaurants in 2023 to twelve open restaurants by September 2025, with a thirteenth under construction in Harrisburg near Charlotte, marking the chain's entry into the greater Charlotte market. The company, founded in 1947 as a single walk-up stand in King, North Carolina, has seen statewide expansion to coastal and mountain regions, including Hendersonville and Jacksonville, with plans for one additional location annually and potential growth into South Carolina.[37][38][39] LaRue's prior experience in collegiate coaching has informed his business approach, applying principles of discipline, team development, and strategic planning to the hospitality industry. As COO, he emphasizes hiring dynamic leaders for in-store management to support ongoing growth, drawing on his background to foster operational efficiency in a fast-paced environment. As of November 2025, LaRue continues in this role, guiding Dairi-O's sustained expansion while maintaining its regional appeal.[40][41][39]Awards and honors
LaRue's athletic career was marked by several notable honors, beginning in high school where he earned All-State recognition in football, basketball, and baseball during his senior year at Northwest Guilford High School.[42] He was also named the North Carolina High School Male Athlete of the Year for the 1991-92 season, reflecting his versatility across multiple sports.[43] At Wake Forest University, LaRue became the first athlete since 1952 to compete in three sports during the 1994-95 academic year, earning letters in football, basketball, and baseball, a feat that highlighted his exceptional multi-sport prowess in the ACC.[4] Academically, he received Academic All-ACC honors, the ACC Scholarship Award, and an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, underscoring his balance of athletic and scholarly excellence.[4] In 1996, he was honored as Wake Forest's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and recipient of the Arnold Palmer Award.[44] These recognitions culminated in his induction into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, celebrating his contributions to the university's basketball program, including participation in back-to-back ACC championship teams in 1995 and 1996.[4] Professionally, LaRue won an NBA Championship ring as a member of the Chicago Bulls in 1998, contributing to the team's second three-peat title.[1] During his time in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), he was selected to the All-CBA Second Team in 2000 while with the Idaho Stampede and led the league in assists that same year, demonstrating his playmaking ability in professional basketball.[1] In his coaching career at Wake Forest, LaRue was recognized as an ACC Legend at the 2007 ACC Basketball Tournament, acknowledging his legacy as both a player and coach within the conference.[41] These honors collectively reflect LaRue's enduring impact across high school, collegiate, and professional basketball, as well as his multi-sport versatility.Career statistics
NBA regular season
LaRue appeared in 98 regular season games over five NBA seasons, primarily as a reserve point guard for the Chicago Bulls, with brief stints on the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors.[1] His most extensive playing time came during the 1998–99 season with the Bulls, where he logged 732 minutes across 43 games, marking his career high in appearances and contributing 203 points, 63 assists, 56 rebounds, and 33 steals.[1] In contrast, his rookie year (1997–98) and subsequent seasons showed limited minutes, with no more than 542 in 2001–02 for Utah, reflecting a journeyman role often hampered by injuries and competition for spots.[1] Field goal efficiency fluctuated, peaking at .408 in 1997–98 but dipping to .333 in his final 2003–04 appearance, while career totals underscore modest production: 486 points at .376 shooting, alongside 152 assists and 62 steals.[1] The following table summarizes LaRue's NBA regular season statistics by season and career totals, drawn from official league records.[1]| Season | Team | G | MP | FG% | PTS | AST | TRB | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | CHI | 14 | 140 | .408 | 49 | 5 | 8 | 3 |
| 1998-99 | CHI | 43 | 732 | .359 | 203 | 63 | 56 | 33 |
| 1999-00 | CHI | 4 | 129 | .349 | 37 | 11 | 10 | 7 |
| 2001-02 | UTA | 33 | 542 | .395 | 193 | 71 | 49 | 17 |
| 2003-04 | GSW | 4 | 22 | .333 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Career | 98 | 1565 | .376 | 486 | 152 | 126 | 62 |
NBA playoffs
LaRue appeared in only four NBA playoff games during his career, all in the 2001–02 first-round series with the Utah Jazz against the Sacramento Kings.[45] Despite limited playing time, his contributions included solid scoring and playmaking in a high-stakes matchup, where the Jazz were eliminated 4–1.[45] Although LaRue was part of the 1997–98 Chicago Bulls roster that won the NBA championship, defeating the Utah Jazz in the Finals, he did not play in any postseason games during that run, logging zero minutes across 19 playoff contests.[21] His role remained end-of-bench support, reflecting his status as a rookie reserve on a star-laden team.[1] In the 2002 series, LaRue averaged 13.1 minutes per game, providing backcourt depth behind starters like John Stockton.[45] His per-game averages included 5.0 points on .375 field goal shooting, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, with a notable 1.000 performance from three-point range in the final game.[45]Career Playoff Totals and Averages
| Season | Team | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | FT% | PTS | AST | TRB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | UTA | 4 | 13.1 | .375 | .400 | .600 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Career | - | 4 | 13.1 | .375 | .400 | .600 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
