a , 280 lb center, ruland went from sachem high school in suffolk county, new york, to iona college on a basketball scholarship and played for coach jim valvano before valvano left for north carolina state university. ruland played on the gaels' 1979–1980 team that beat eventual national champion louisville, 77–60, at madison square garden during the regular season and compiled a 29–5 record en route to a number 19 national ranking, the best in the school's history. however, ruland was found in violation of ncaa rules by hiring an agent, paul corvino, at international management inc. and was ruled ineligible to play his senior year at iona.