Ruth Sinn

Head Coach

Ruth Sinn can be reached at 651-962-5931 or at: rasinn@stthomas.edu
---

Ruth Opatz Sinn, whose basketball playing success led to her induction into the Tommie Athletic Hall of Fame, was named head women's basketball coach at the University of St. Thomas in May 2005.

In her personal, positive style, Sinn hit the ground running and has the Tommie program moving in the right direction.

A young, injury-plagued Tommie team finished 10-15 in 2005-06, but UST took wins over conference contenders Carleton and Gustavus and laid the groundwork for future success.

In 2006-07, St. Thomas won eight of its last 10 games --including an upset road win over MIAC champion St. Benedict -- and finished 15-11 overall (14-8 MIAC). It was the 20th postseason trip in 21 seasons for the Tommie women.

Sinn's 21-year high-school coaching career includes the previous 16 seasons as head coach at Apple Valley High School. Her Apple Valley teams played in three state tournaments, most recently in 2004, won eight section championships, and compiled a 290-170 record. She was a five-time section Coach of the Year. She coached 12 all-staters, including 1990 Ms. Basketball winner Carol Ann Shudlick, who later won college basketball's Wade Trophy in 1994 as a senior with the Minnesota Gophers.

Sinn also was head coach at Hill-Murray from 1987-89 and was an assistant coach at Woodbury (1984-85) and Hill-Murray (1985-87).

Sinn, a North St. Paul native, played on the Tommies' first two conference championship teams and helped build an 80-36 won-loss record from 1980-84. As a senior she played on St. Thomas' first NCAA playoff team and led the squad in steals and assists. She ranks in UST's top-12 in career steals, assists and blocked shots. She was among the first seven females inducted into UST's Athletic Hall of Fame, back in 1992.

"I'm excited for this opportunity to come back to St. Thomas and be part of a tremendous tradition," Sinn said. "It was a very difficult decision to leave Apple Valley because of the community and family atmosphere I experienced. But this is an opportunity for me and my family to grow. I was impressed with the vision of St. Thomas. It's an exciting time to be part of this university."

"Ruth is an impressive coach who will continue St. Thomas' tradition of excellence in women's basketball," said Steve Fritz, UST athletics director. "She has a reputation as an excellent teacher of the game, and certainly knows Minnesota high school basketball. As an Athletic Hall of Famer she has pride in and appreciation of St. Thomas, both from a basketball and academic standpoint."

St. Thomas women's basketball made the NCAA playoffs 15 consecutive seasons (1987-2001), highlighted by a 1991 championship and third-place NCAA finishes in 1995, 1996 and 2000.

"Our Tommie basketball teams will be well prepared, be fundamentally sound, and will pride themselves in attention to detail," Sinn said. "But it's not just going to be about basketball. We'll look to develop the whole person and make sure that the players' time on the court is part of a significant life experience."

Sinn was inducted into the Minnesota State Girls Basketball Coaches' Association Hall of Fame in 2002, and has served on the Minnesota Ms. Basketball Committee since 1988. She has 15 former players now involved in teaching and/or coaching at various levels.