Rod Rutherford’s run as head coach of his alma mater is over.
The former Perry and Pitt football star has resigned as Perry Traditional Academy head coach. This was first reported by Chris Harlan of the Tribune Review.
According to Pittsburgh Public Schools athletic director Karen Arnold, Rutherford left for personal reasons. In three seasons with Perry, Rutherford compiled a record of 7-18. In June, Rutherford was furloughed from his job at Obama Academy. It is unclear if that was a contributing factor in Rutherford’s resignation.
Arnold tells Harlan that Perry wants to have a head coach hired prior to the start of the season and the district will be accepting head coaching applications until Monday, July 20. City League teams haven’t started workouts team workouts yet as they’re waiting for a health and safety plan for COVID-19 to be approved by the school board.
The 39 year old Rutherford played at Pitt from the 2000 season until the 2003 season. Following short stints with both the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers and some Arena Football Leagues, Rutherford turned his attention to coaching. Prior to his head coaching position at Perry, Rutherford held positions with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saint Vincent College, graduate assistant at Pitt and at IUP.
