Jim Rouff
Bio
Jim is undoubtedly best known as a baseball coach, having spent 22 years as a varsity head baseball coach as well as six years as an assistant football coach. He taught physical education, served as a department chair, and implemented Lakota's state-recognized power lifting program. In addition to his teaching and coaching duties Jim served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the World Champion Cincinnati Reds for 12 seasons. He also made noteworthy contributions to Lakota East athletics while serving as their Athletic Director for ten years.
During Jim's 19 seasons as a head baseball coach at Lakota he amassed 268 wins, still the most of any coach in the 51-year history of Lakota district baseball. With Lakota being the second school at which Rouff served as head coach, his total head coaching career win record is well past the 300 mark, making him one of but a handful of coaches in Southwest Ohio to attain this level. He is a member of the Lakota Hall of Fame.
Jim was a mentor to two other coaches who went on to contribute to Lakota baseball history. As a head coach at Lakota, he recruited Bill Dreisbach as an assistant baseball coach who later became varsity head coach at Lakota West, leading the Firebirds to a State Championship in 2007. As an athletic director, Jim hired one of his former Lakota players, Ray Hamilton, to become a varsity head coach at Lakota East, who also went on to lead the Thunderhawk's to a State Championship in 2011.
Favorites
BOOK FOR LEADERS: The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn
ATHLETE: Tony Perez…the ultimate leader
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM: Cincinnati Reds
SPORTS MOVIE: Invincible
FAVORITE PODCAST: Jim Day Podcasts
SOCIAL MEDIA: @rufbod7
QUOTE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU:
"Have a vision."
IF YOU KNEW THEN WHAT YOU KNOW NOW…WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE HIGH SCHOOL JIM?
Don't get distracted by outside sources. Stay positive.
THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A THUNDERBIRD WAS:
The involvement and support of the community.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS FUN THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU???
I love to laugh!