on july 16, 2007, ruland was hired to replace michael cooper as the head coach of the nba d-league's albuquerque thunderbirds. after coaching the thunderbirds for the 2007–08 season, ruland was hired as an assistant coach for the philadelphia 76ers on august 23, 2008. new 76ers head coach eddie jordan decided not to retain ruland for the 2009–10 season.