Bolivar, Mo. – Head Football Coach Paul Hansen announces Mason Ruzicka as the new linebackers coach at Southwest Baptist University following previous coaching roles at FCS Campbell University and Division III East Texas Baptist University (ETBU).

This marks Ruzicka's seventh overall season in college coaching and his first at the Division II level. Most recently, he served as the Defensive Quality Control and Linebackers Coach at Campbell University. Prior to that, he began his coaching career at East Texas Baptist University in 2019 as a graduate assistant. He was promoted to Linebackers Coach in 2020 and later took on responsibilities as Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator in 2023.

At ETBU, Ruzicka played a key role in the success of the Tiger defense. In 2022, the unit placed third in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) in total defense and led the nation in tackles for loss (9.2 per game), while also finishing 13th nationally in sacks per game (3.4). In 2023, ETBU's special teams ranked first in the ASC in kickoff coverage and third in kickoff return. That same year, the defense statistically ranked second in total defense and finished in the top three in several other conference categories. Serving as Recruiting Coordinator, Ruzicka - along with the football staff, signed a record number of student-athletes for ETBU. 

At Campbell, Ruzicka helped the Fighting Camels' defense finish tied for third in interceptions and top 10 in sacks in the CAA Conference during the 2024 season. He coached a talented linebacker group that included Jalen Brooks, George Wilson, and Logan Livermon. Brooks, a former walk-on at the University of North Carolina, posted 118 tackles, setting Campbell's single-season record and earning All-Conference honors while finishing 13th nationally in tackles. Wilson, a transfer from Florida State, led the team with five sacks and ranked in the top 20 in the conference. Livermon, a former Campbell walk-on who earned a scholarship, was the team's third-leading tackler and received Academic All-District honors from CSC.

A native of Arlington, Texas, Ruzicka earned a B.A. in History with a minor in Disability Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2019. He completed his Master's in Education with a specialization in Sports Leadership from East Texas Baptist University in 2020.