In February 1990, Rundle was hired as the head coach at
Colorado College. He replaced
Jerry Carle, who had served as the school's head coach for 33 years. The Colorado College football team had finished the 1989 season with a 1–8 record. Asked about taking over a program that was in a rebuilding phase, Rundle said, "I'm not intimidated about coming into a program that's been down. When I started here at St. Mary's, they weren't that much better. It's going to be a real challenge, but I look forward to it." Rundle explained his decision to make the move as follows, "For raising my family, I found the city of
Colorado Springs very appealing. And a
Division III program fits my philosophies. I think you'll find Division III programs offer more of a pure sport." After arriving at Colorado College, Rundle introduced a new, pass-oriented offense. The focal point of the new offense was Rundle's "pro-set, man-in-motion, pass-when-you-can attack." Rundle's first victory at Colorado College was a 38–6 win over
Tabor College featuring a passing attack that accounted for 860 yards of offense in the first three games of the 1990 season. After a 63–0 win over
Trinity Bible College in late October 1990, the
Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph referred to the Colorado College offense as "Air Rundle." Rundle remained at Colorado College for seven seasons from 1990 to 1996 and compiled a seven-year record of 29–33–1. In his first three seasons, his teams finished 4–5, 3–6 and 3–6. However, the team lost the final game of the season by a score of 22–21 against
Hastings College, a team that was ranked No. 3 in NAIA Division II. In the loss to Hastings, Colorado College led going into the final minutes when Hastings completed several passes and scored a touchdown for the lead. Years later, Rundle recalled the loss to Hastings, "I still wake up at night sometimes and think about that game. You know, just wondering what if we'd done a few things differently." Rundle told a reporter, "It seems like they might be looking for reasons why we don't belong in the playoffs, instead of why we do. I've called a couple of people on the committee, just trying to enlighten them about our situation. But I'm not sure it's had any effect." Yet, the
Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph noted, "Rundle, whose priorities and ethics are impeccable, refuses to scream about being victimized by the system." The 1993 Colorado College team averaged 38 points a game and allowed 20 points per game, while setting season records for points (344), touchdowns (46), defensive touchdowns (six), points scored by the defense (36) and consecutive victories to start a season (eight). Despite finishing 4–4–1 and 4–5 in 1994 and 1995, Rundle remained a popular figure in Colorado Springs. In 1996, the
Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph wrote: "Step into the office of Colorado College football coach Craig Rundle, and you instantly rediscover all's right with the world. Rundle, entering his seventh year at CC, always has made sure his nonscholarship program's priorities remain constant and appropriate." In his seven years at Colorado College, Rundle became the third-winningest coach in the school's football history behind Jerry Carle and W.T. Van de Graaff. When Rundle announced his decision to leave Colorado College to take the head coaching position at his alma mater, Albion College, a columnist in the
Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph closed his coverage of the story as follows:"Craig Rundle is a special person in every way. This job brings us in contact with all kinds of coaches, most of whom go without more than a simple 'good luck, and nice working with you,' as they leave. But for this farewell, it seems appropriate to add something I've never written before. I wish I could have played for you, coach. I really do." ==Albion College (coach)==