On May 23, 2017, North Carolina FC has signed defender Brad Ruhaak from Akron, Ohio, to his first professional contract.
Ruhaak joins NCFC from college soccer dynasty University of Akron, where he captained the squad for two years and was a First-Team All-MAC selection in 2015 and 2016. During his NCAA career, he made 70 career appearances and 66 starts, while scoring seven goals and three assists.
As a three-year starter on the Akron defense, he helped the backline post 27 shutouts. Akron won the MAC regular season title, the MAC Tournament and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament every season that Ruhaak was at Akron.
Ruhaak also played in the Premier Development League, the top amateur league in the country, and led the Michigan Bucks to a 2016 PDL National Championship. He made 14 appearances, scored one goal and added four assists during his season with the Bucks.