University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Alumni Profile - Robert Rudder
09.04.2014 | Baseball
Editor's Note: The UNC Asheville Office of Athletics Communications will try to provide an Alumni Spotlight periodically to let people know what our former Bulldogs are doing right now. Today we profile former baseball player - Robert Rudder. The article was written by Pete McDaneil, Director of Alumni Relations.
By Pete McDaniel
Robert Rudder, Jr., had a knack for finding the holes in defensive alignments during his two years as starting second baseman for the Bulldogs of UNC Asheville. In fact, he collected enough “seeing-eye'' hits during his senior (2003) year to bat .316 and help the Bulldogs upset top-seeded Winthrop in the conference tournament.
“I was more of a sprayer then,'' admitted Rudder, CEO and owner of Peak Fitness and Meridian Corporate Health in Johnson City, Tn.
Even with his keen eye for the strike zone, Rudder couldn't have envisioned the path his life would take after his college career ended with a bang in the semifinals of the Big South Conference Tournament.
“I think I went 6-for-12 or something in the tournament (3-for-3 in the 9-1 upset of Winthrop),'' he said. “It was a great win for a program that had been picked near the bottom of the conference.''
It's a journey that has allowed him to shag a couple master's degrees, coach college ball, strike out on a mission to make it in the field of healthcare and, finally, own a business on the climb.
“It's been quite a rollercoaster for sure, but it's been very gratifying,'' Rudder said. “I was a trainer at a wellness center and my last coaching job was at King College. That's what took me to Tennessee. I became interested in being an entrepreneur and doing it on my own. We've done quite well in a short amount of time.''
So well, in fact, that Rudder is among the list of nominees for Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 100 Entrepreneurs under the age of 35.
“I was the guy who barely graduated with a 2.001 something, who ended up with two master's degrees and up for an award like that. I don't think anyone would have seen that coming.''
Rudder might seem like a longshot who took advantage of the stars aligning just right. However, the potential was there from the start.
His family moved to Asheville when he was five years old. His meteoric rise to stardom occurred during his junior year at Enka High where he earned all-state honors. Ironically, his breakout season happened to be his last in a high school uniform. Because he began his high school career at East Henderson he had exhausted his eligibility after his junior year at Enka.
Still, that didn't keep Western Carolina University from offering Rudder a scholarship.
He transferred to UNC Asheville after two years where he was red-shirted in 2001. A self-described “marginal'' player, Rudder hit his stride two years later.
“Robert Rudder was one of the hardest workers I've ever seen in our program,'' said longtime Associate Athletic Director and the voice of Bulldog baseball Mike Gore. “We had some of our best regular-seasons ever in the history of Bulldog baseball, and Robert was a key reason for that success.''
Now Rudder is seeking to pay it forward as an advocate for the proposed new baseball stadium at UNC Asheville. In his eyes, it's as clear as a line drive chest-high where he doesn't have to move one step to snag it.
“I think it's fantastic,'' he says of plans to build a new stadium. “Every year baseball gets more competitive. When it comes to recruiting, things like that kind of separate us from everybody else. Along with the basketball arena, it's just another one of those things that will attract a potential player. A stadium will boost us up another level. I think that will be the difference in making the program go forward.''
And if you think the 34-year-old father of two-year-old Kathryn (wife Laura) has hung up his spikes and packed away his glove, think again. Now a power-hitter, Rudder plays second base for Asheville's adult league amateur team the Angels. There are also several of his old college teammates enjoying the national pastime in the prime of life.
And they're still achieving.
Three years ago in Port St. Lucie, Fl., the Angels won the Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) Fall Classic for the 25+ American Division. Just like his new love for entrepreneurship, Rudder's first love of competition continues to burn bright.
“Baseball is something I've played since I was five years old, so it's in me to the core,'' he says. “I love the competition and comradery. When I look back on UNC Asheville, the things I remember the most are relationships I had with the guys. Now, instead of going out to dinner we get together and play ball. It's those relationships that have kept me playing ball.''
