Rutledge was no stranger to the Green and Gold when he joined the track and field team at Southern, having watched first-hand his father and fellow MSSU Hall of Famer, Tom guide the Lions as the head coach. Rutledge graduated in 2006 from Missouri Southern with a degree in business and left a legacy as an eight-time national qualifier to the NCAA Championships, qualifying for the indoor and outdoor championships in 2003, 04, 05 and 06.

He was a three-time All-American earning honors in 03, 04 and 06 and was the National Runner-up in the 2006 indoor meet, while taking third at the 2005 outdoor meet. The apex of his career came when he reached a No. 25 national ranking after graduation with a vault of 17-08.00 at the KU Relays.

Since graduation, Rutledge went on to be an assistant coach at MSSU, before moving on to Missouri S&T, and currently serves as an Associate Head Coach at Pittsburg State. Rutledge is married to his wife Natalie and the couple has three children, Emery, Quinn and Cash.