Sacred Heart University

Dan Ruede joined the Sacred Heart University athletic staff in October of 2025 as the Associate Athletic Director for Athletics Communications. His primary responsibilities include administrative responsibilities and sports responsibilities for women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, baseball, fencing, cheerleading and dance.

Prior to Sacred Heart, Ruede spent 10 years at the University of New Haven where he served as the Associate Director of Athletics/Strategic Communications and was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day communications, marketing, promotions and brand management activities for all 20 of the University’s Division II sports.

In addition to his responsibilities at New Haven, Ruede served as a member of the Athletic Director’s Senior Leadership Team and served a three-year term on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Board of Directors (2020-2023). Additionally, he served as the Athletic Communications Chair for the Northeast-10 Conference and was a member of the league’s Digital Streaming Committee. During his tenure at New Haven, Ruede served as the host site media coordinator for three NCAA Regional Championships in Volleyball (2017, 2018) and Baseball (2018).

Prior to New Haven, Ruede spent 10 years at the University of Hartford, the last six as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications. At Hartford, he oversaw the athletic communications office and served as the primary spokesperson for the Department of Athletics. His primary sport coverage included women’s basketball, baseball, women’s soccer, volleyball, golf and tennis.

Along with his sport responsibilities at Hartford, Ruede served as a member of the Athletic Directors Council, managed the Athletic Communications budget, was responsible for bidding and securing radio and television contracts, managed the department website and was the department’s primary graphic designer.

Also during his time at Hartford, Ruede served as the host site media coordinator for six America East Basketball Championships as well as assisting in hosting President Barack Obama in May 2013. He also served as a member of the President’s Committee on Branding in 2012-13 which was responsible for creating a new, distinctive brand for the University.

Ruede joined the University of Hartford as an Assistant Sports Information Director after spending six years at Central Connecticut State University as a Student Assistant and Assistant SID. While at CCSU, he worked with women’s basketball, baseball, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, swimming and diving and volleyball. 

He earned his undergraduate degree in communications from Central Connecticut State University in 2003 with a minor in journalism. A native of Hartford, Conn., Ruede currently resides in Middletown, Conn. with his wife Kristen and daughter Madison.