Randolph-Macon has playedfor the ODAC Championship in each of the last three seasons underthe direction of head coach Pedro Arruza, who is entering hisseventh year on the R-MC sidelines.
In 2008, Arruza led theRandolph-Macon program to its first ODAC Championship since 1997and its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1984. For his efforts, Arruza was named ODAC Coach of the Yearfor the first time in his short career. 
In 2007, Arruza engineered what proved to be the best turnaround inall NCAA divisions from the previous season and gave R-MC its bestcampaign since 1997.
The Jackets finished the year at8-2 overall and tied a school record with five wins against ODACfoes after being tabbed to finish last in the league's preseasonpoll. The Yellow Jackets had the highest winning percentage of anycollege program in the state of Virginia and placed 12 players onthe All-ODAC Team, while 17 Jackets earned a spot on the league'sAll-Academic Team.
Arruza was named the head football coach at Randolph-Macon Collegein March 2004. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach atWashington University in St. Louis, Missouri, since 1999. Duringthat time, Arruza served as defensive coordinator and strength andconditioning coordinator for three seasons. He was also secondarycoach and recruiting coordinator all five years.
At Washington, Arruza led a defensive unit that was consistentlyranked among the best in NCAA Division III, finishing firstnationally in total defense in 1999 and third in 2000. The Bearswon four conference championships in five years and made an NCAAplayoff appearance in 1999. In 2003 Arruza received the AmericanFootball Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Assistant Coach ofthe Year award, which honors assistant coaches who excel incommunity service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-fieldcoaching success and AFCA involvement.
Prior to his position at Washington, Arruza was an assistant coachat Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1998 to 1999where he worked with the secondary.
Prior to his stint at Butler, heserved as an assistant at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin,Tennessee from 1996 to 1998. He coached the secondary and alsocoached running backs and helped the program advanceto the state semifinals in 1996 and the Tennessee StateChampionship in 1997.
A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Arruza is a 1995 graduate ofWheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. There, he was a four-yearstarter at running back, earned Division III All-American honorstwice, was named first-team all-conference three times, and wasalso a three-year GTE Academic All-American, including first teamhonors in 1994 and 1995.
Arruza is Wheaton's all-time leading rusher with 3,179 yards on 645carries. In 1993 he ran for a then school record 1,209 yards.Arruza holds single game records for rushing yards in a game (313vs. North Central on 10/30/93) and for rushing yards in a half (287vs. North Central on 10/30/93). He finished his career as thesecond leading scorer in Wheaton history and the all-time leaderfor all-purpose yards.
A 2003 inductee into the King's Academy Athletic Hall of Fame,Arruza was named the Virginia Division II/III State Coach of theYear by the Richmond Touchdown Club following the 2007 and2008 seasons.
He received his bachelor's degree in English from Wheaton in 1995,graduating Summa Cum Laude. Arruza went on to receive his master'sdegree in English from Butler University in 1999. He is a CertifiedStrength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength andConditioning Association.
Arruza and his wife, Kara, have three children: a son, Owen, whois 8 years old, a daughter, Ella, who is 6 years old anda son, Will who is three years old. The familyresides in Ashland.
