Former Carthage and North Park football coach Tim Rucks has died. He was 54. 

Kenosha, Wis., police believe the one-car accident which took his life was related to a medcal issue. According to friends and family, Rucks died of a heart attack.

Rucks coached Carthage for 18 seasons, from 1995-2012, including leading the Redmen to the 2004 national quarterfinals and a 95-79-1 record. Before coming to Carthage, he spent five seasons at North Park, where he was the last person to lead the Vikings to a .500 record.

"I spoke with Tim Rucks almost every day since January 16, 1995, the day that I hired him as the Carthage head football coach," said athletic director Bob Bonn. "Tim gave every ounce of his energy, talent, and enthusiasm to the football program, the athletics department and most importantly to the students, over his 20-year Carthage career. He taught us all how to be compassionate, how to treat people, and how to care about others. He was one of the kindest people I have or will ever know.

"This is a terrible loss for the Rucks and Carthage families and we will miss him with all of our hearts."

Rucks stepped down from coaching during the 2012 season and remaiend at Carthage as an assistant athletic director. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014. He had also been a member of the Division III football championships committee.

As a senior at Carthage in 1982, Rucks was named first-team All-CCIW offensive tackle. He graduated in 1983 with a double major in English and political science. Rucks was a third-round draft pick of the Denver Gold in the inaugural USFL draft before signing as a free agent with the New York Jets. He played with the Jets during the 1983 season.