A first-team College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), player in his senior year, Rucks graduated in 1983.
However, he decided to forego the USFL, instead signing a free agent contract with the National Football League's New York Jets on May 5 of that year.
Inducted into the American Football Association Semi-Pro Hall of Fame in 2002, Rucks later served on the Gladiators' (now known as the Racine Raiders) Board of Directors.
In 2004, Rucks led the Red Men to their first Division III football playoff in 2004, advancing all the way to the quarterfinals.
[7] After retiring as the coach, Rucks remained with Carthage as an assistant athletic director and academic advisor.