Courtney Rutherford has been a part of the Reinhardt University tennis coaching staff since 2022. In July 2023, he was promoted to the full-time assistant coach position for the men’s and women’s tennis teams. With extensive coaching experience at the junior, collegiate, and professional levels, Rutherford is now assuming the main assistant role for the standout eagles tennis programs.

Originally from Atlanta, Rutherford played a key part in Georgia Gwinnett's first five NAIA national championships on the men’s and women’s side. He served as a part-time coach with the Grizzlies from 2013-18, helping them achieve a number of individual national titles.

Before joining the college coaching ranks, Rutherford had a successful career coaching at multiple levels of tennis. For instance, he coached WTA player Edina Gallovits-Hall, helping her achieve a No. 54 world ranking during his ten years as her personal coach. Gallovits-Hall went on to claim singles victories in all four grand slam tournaments and capture three WTA doubles titles.

Over the last dozen years, Rutherford has held academy director positions for several Gwinnett-area tennis clubs, including the Hamilton Mill Tennis Center in Dacula and Magnolia Tennis Center in Dacula. He also spent four years as the academy director at the former Collins Hill Athletic Club, which is now the GGC Tennis Facility and the Grizzlies’ current home. Many of the junior players Rutherford coached have gone on to earn collegiate scholarships or reach the professional ranks.

As a student-athlete, Rutherford competed for Coker College in Hartsville, S.C., for four seasons, earning team MVP honors with the Cobras. He earned his degree from Coker in 2002, double-majoring in business and psychology while serving as a student assistant to the Dean.