Rusty LaRue

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

LaRue's journey to the NBA was defined by versatility and resilience. At Wake Forest, he became just the second player in ACC history to play three sports—basketball, baseball, and football—in the same year. He also achieved a rare feat on the basketball court: one of only four players to beat Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium all four years, joining legends like Tim Duncan and Danny Green. On the gridiron as a freshman quarterback in 1992, he helped lead Wake Forest to an Independence Bowl victory. As a senior, he broke eight NCAA records for passing, including a mark of 55 completions in a single game. Despite this football success, LaRue was also a dominant shooter in basketball, finishing first all-time at his school in three-point field goal percentage and second in total makes.

In Their Own Story

LaRue's professional path began in the minor leagues after college, where he honed his craft before joining the Chicago Bulls for the 1997–98 season. During that championship year, he averaged 3.5 points per game. Following the departures of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Steve Kerr, LaRue received increased playing time in the next season, averaging 4.7 points and 1.5 assists while shooting 33.7% from three-point range. However, as the Bulls entered a post-dynasty rebuilding phase during the 1999–2000 NBA season, they cut ties with him. He briefly returned to the minor leagues, earning a spot on the All-Continental Basketball Association Second Team with the Idaho Stampede in 2000, before signing with CSKA Moscow in Russia.

Reader's Guide

After retiring from playing in 2004, LaRue immediately began his coaching career as head coach at Greensboro College. He later served as athletics director and basketball coach at Forsyth Country Day School. In 2009, he joined the Wake Forest Demon Deacons as an assistant coach under Dino Gaudio, a role he kept when Jeff Bzdelik took over in 2010. He remained until being released by new head coach Danny Manning in 2014. Since June 30, 2015, LaRue served as the head men's basketball coach at West Forsyth High School, a school also attended by former Wake Forest player Chris Paul. He retired from coaching in 2019 and currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer of Dairi-O Restaurants.

Did You Know?

• LaRue is one of only four players to beat Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium all four years, alongside Tim Duncan, Tyler Hansbrough, and Danny Green.
• He was the second player in ACC history to play three sports (basketball, baseball, football) in the same year at Wake Forest.
• As a senior quarterback, LaRue broke eight NCAA passing records, including 55 completions in one game.
• LaRue played for the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors after his time with the Bulls, but was waived by the Boston Celtics before appearing in a regular-season game for them.
• He served as an assistant coach at Wake Forest under three different head coaches: Dino Gaudio, Jeff Bzdelik, and Danny Manning.