WU Remembers Former A.D. Rudy Yovich
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WHEELING -- Former Wheeling University Athletics Director Rudy Yovich greeted every fan, coach and player with a smile -- whether they were for his team or opposing teams, it didn't matter.
Yovich passed away on Tuesday at the age of 56 but he left behind a lifetime of memories, kind words and ear-to-ear smiles.
"This is a true loss for our university and for the world of athletics," Wheeling University president Ginny Favede said. "He was very highly regarded and he always had a smile on his face.
"As a parent of a Wheeling University athlete, the hardest part was sharing his death with my son. They were very close and remained close.
"We would joke that sometimes Rudy would talk to my son during the day before I even had the chance to yet.
"They shared the love of sports. One time at the Undo's Basketball Tournament, we walked in and Rudy and (former Wheeling Post 1 manager) Mark Delbrugge were both already walking over to talk to my son. It just showed me the relationship that the three of them had.
"Rudy was true to who he was in his professional and private life and this is a hard day for all of us."
Yovich was a family man who cared deeply about his wife Timera, son Nicholas and daughter Lauren.
He left his post as A.D. at Wheeling University to take the athletics director job at Owens Community College in January to be closer to his daughter who was relocating for school.
"He left because family was very important to him," Favede said. "When he said he was leaving I took it hard but his daughter was relocating. He was a family man and I think that helped him embrace athletes at the college level."
Although he left Wheeling for Owens, Yovich still had a home in St. Clairsville. His heart was always in the Ohio Valley.
"He decided to move back to where he worked before," Wheeling University football coach Zac Bruney said. "I met his wife when she visited us when our daughter was born last April. She is still working at Wheeling Hospital and Rudy was back here when he passed away. He was working remotely from home, just like all of us.
"It's a sad day for all of us. It hurts my heart to see that happen."
Yovich was a standout on the baseball diamond at Lincoln High School in Midland, PA. and was inducted into the Midland Sports Hall of Fame last July.
Yovich was named Wheeling's athletics director in August of 2017, just one month after the Cardinals hired Bruney as their football coach.
"Rudy and I kind of came into this together," Bruney said. "It was a labor of love. He was a good guy to work with and he was the first athletics director I worked for as a head coach. We had a great relationship.
"He was a great person, very genuine and honest and as an A.D. should, always had the thoughts and best interest of his coaches and student athletes.
"He always tried to do things the right way from a communication standpoint and he battled through some tough times for our university as a whole and helped lead us through that black cloud. Sometimes he got a bad rap on decisions that he had nothing to do with.
"He was a team-guy and a university-first guy. He got Will Ryan hired, which was a steal for our basketball team and he put together some good coaching staffs in his time here.
"I'm going to miss the conversations with him but I know he is resting peacefully."
Yovich was also proud of the Wheeling University volleyball team, a national title contender year in and year out, led by coach Christy Benner.
"Rudy was loved by our student-athletes," Benner said. "He loved them, too. He loved talking to people and just communicating with them.
"We will always remember the fun he had at our matches. Athletics directors and coaches contacted me about him when they heard what happened, even some Pa. teams who just met Rudy a couple of times. They enjoyed talking to him.
"He played crazy music at our matches and he really communicated with other coaches and left an impression on them. A lot of our students on social media are saying great things about him.
"All of my thoughts and prayers are with his family. He will be greatly missed."