The Chart Online

Rutledge earns MIAA recognition
Tracy Hamilton

Staff Writer

Tom Rutledge, head coach for the Missouri Southern men s cross country team, received the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic s Association head cross country coach of the year on Nov. 5.

After adding his third consecutive All-Conference plaque to the men s cross country program, Rutledge also helped lead the Lions to a second place title on Nov. 9 at the South Central Regional Meet in Warrensburg.

The 2002 men s team has one All-Conference champion, two All-Conference honorees, and three regional titles to show for, not to mention the possibilities waiting at the National meet on Nov. 23 in Ashland, Ohio.

Producing great athletes is one of Rutledge s favorite pastimes. He has coached a total of 36 All-Americans in cross-country and track and field in his 28 years of experience. He has held three cross country conference championships and plans to add more to his collection.

Sallie Beard, athletic director, is not surprised with Rutledge s coaching and leading his team to three consecutive titles.

He is a hard-working coach and hard work always pays off, she said.

Rutledge refuses to take credit for the men s success. His motivation to continue coaching and stay at Southern is the athletes themselves. He claims he merely coaches the runners and encourages them, but they are doing all of the hard work. He is extremely proud and honored to be a part of the team s results and continues to believe in the program.

The reason I am here is for the guys - bottom line, Rutledge said.

His runners recognize his ability to help lead the team throughout all of its success this season. Rutledge s commitment to the program aids in the willingness of the team to train hard. He challenges his athletes to work hard throughout their athletic careers as well outside of sports.

He is a really awesome coach and he really puts in a lot of time and commitment, said Paul Koehler, sophomore history major.

Coaches fulfill more roles than coaching. Rutledge s wife, Karen, provides him with moral support to help his athletes through tough times.

Coaches are also substitute parents and counselors, she said.

He always promises the parents [of the athletes] that he will take good care of them, and he does.

Rutledge has a deep desire not only for his program to succeed, but also for the other sports at Southern. His infamous saying of, Winning breeds winning, encourages other programs to strive to excel.