Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
CHRISTOPHER – The CZR Bearcats will have their fourth head football coach in the last five seasons in 2025, but he’s definitely not new to Christopher or the Black Diamond Conference.
Mike Rude is returning to his alma mater to take over the reins of the Bearcats, a program that has struggled mightily for the better part of two decades. He replaces Tommy Spillan, who was 0-18 in two seasons as the Bearcats’ head coach.
CZR has not made the playoffs since 2008. In the 16 seasons since that last playoff trip, the Bearcats have won only 29 out of 141 games, including four winless seasons. To find CZR’s last winning season, you have to go all the way back to 2002.
Rude currently ranks 20th on the IHSA’s all-time coaching list with 260 wins. He has a career high school record of 260-190 with previous head coaching stops at Wyanet, Anna-Jonesboro, Marion, Johnston City, Vienna/Goreville (twice), and Sesser-Valier/Waltonville.
Rude served as co-head coach with John Shadowens the past six seasons at SVW, where the Red Devils compiled a 43-18 record with five playoff appearances to go with the pandemic-shortened season in 2021 when there was no postseason.
At 77 years old, Rude says his goal is to not only to right the ship and get the program headed back in the right direction, but also to put together and mentor members of a coaching staff so they will be ready to be his potential successor.
