Ruel has 35 years of college and National Football League coaching experience. He lettered at offensive guard for University of Miami under head coachFran Curci and received his B.S. in psychology in 1972 where he immediately became a graduate assistant coach in 1973. He and Seattle Seahawks Head CoachPete Carroll were both graduate assistants on the 1977 Arkansas Razorbacks football team. Former Mississippi Head Coach Houston Nutt was also at Arkansas at the same time, as a backup quarterback. Arkansas' Defensive Coordinator at the time, Monte Kiffin, would be a mentor to Carroll who would later have his son Lane Kiffin as his offensive coordinator at USC. The Razorbacks won the 1978 Orange Bowl that season and Ruel would move on to a full-time position at Washington State University. He spent four years with the Cougars, the first 2 seasons as the offensive line coach before adding offensive coordinator duties for his final two seasons. Ruel's longest tenure was at Kansas from 1988–96, the first 3 as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, then adding assistant head coach to his title the final 6 years. During his first summer Lawrence, he joined the coaches and 50 or so scholarship players in sleeping on the practice field for solidarity. During his time at Kansas, the Jayhawks improved from 1-10 in 1988 to 10-2 in 1995, finishing in the top 10. Ruel spent 1997 in private business, then moved on to Michigan State for 2 years. The first year with the Spartans he served as offensive line coach and then adding assistant head coach duties in the second season. He was hired by the NFL's Detroit Lions in 2000 to take over as offensive line coach. He spent the next 2 seasons as the assistant offensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers. In 2003, he took over offensive line coach duties for the Buffalo Bills before moving the New York Giants for the 2004 season. Ruel joined the Trojans in February 2005. Carroll lured Ruel away from the NFL's New York Giants, taking him to lunch on a sunny day in Manhattan Beach. Ruel found Carroll to be charming, noting "Pete's like a beautiful woman. The closer you get, you better look out. He is very charismatic. He can smile and make you feel like a million dollars." His players at USC included Sam Baker, Winston Justice, Ryan Kalil, Deuce Lutui, Fred Matua, Chilo Rachal, Drew Radovich, Matt Spanos, and Kyle Williams. After Pete Carroll signed with the Seahawks, Ruel was released from USC on January 20, 2010 and joined the Seahawks five months later after Alex Gibbs sudden retirement.
