Former Missouri Southern track and field and cross country coach Tom Rutledge will be inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame this June, the league announced today.
Rutlege is one of ten individuals to be bestowed the honor by the MIAA. The ceremony will take place on June 3, 2015 at the Kansas City Public Library – Plaza Branch, 4801 Main Street in Kansas City, Mo. The event will be held in the Truman Forum Auditorium. Reservations for the event are available by visitingwww.themiaa.com/sb_output.aspx?form=4 and filling out the form. Reservations will be given out on a first come, first served basis.
Rutledge coached for 24 years at Missouri Southern after coming to Joplin in 1988 as an assistant football coach. In 1989, he became the first head cross country and track and field coach for both men's and women's programs.
During his tenure, Rutledge was named MIAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year five times and Indoor Coach of the Year twice. He was also honored as South Central Region Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year in 1999, 2004 and 2007, and South Central Region Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2007 for his contributions to the sport.
He mentored eight cross country All-Americans and fifty-eight Track and Field All-Americans, including many achieving multiple All-American honors.
The cross country course at Missouri Southern is named the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in his honor. Rutledge was inducted as a member of the MSSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008, while also being inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
Joining Rutledge as part of the 2015 MIAA Hall of Fame Class are: Kim Anderson (UCM - Basketball Coach), Kristin (Anderson) Swisher (UCM - Track and Field), Leslie (Dudley) Morrow (PSU - Basketball), Kathy (Kearns) Behounek (NWMO - XC/TF), Tony Miles (NWMO - Football), Darla (Curp) Moberly (UCM - XC/TF), Danny Powers (UCM - Baseball), Clint Prange (NWMO - Track), and Brian Shay (ESU - Football).
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