Meet Severna Park’s New AD, Kevin Rutledge

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The youngest of seven athletes and raised by a soccer and basketball coach, Kevin Rutledge gained a strong sense of passion and appreciation for athletics at a young age.

He played lacrosse at Towson University and, after graduating, was hired for a variety of athletic-related positions at Northeast and Meade high schools, including lacrosse coach, assistant basketball coach, physical education teacher, assistant athletic director and head athletic director. Rutledge spent the last five years at Meade and reflected fondly on some of his accomplishments.

“We won the first basketball state championship in 25 years for Anne Arundel County,” Rutledge said. “We were region champions in soccer, but my proudest accomplishment was being able to update and upgrade the athletic facilities there.”

Because of Rutledge’s work on numerous grants, accumulating approximately $2.4 million, Meade was able to completely renovate its stadium, softball field and gymnasium while also building a ticket booth and a concession stand with bathrooms.

This passion and drive is exactly what made Rutledge stand out among applicants when Lindsay Abruzzo, the Severna Park High School assistant principal and athletic department administrator, chose to hire him for the position.

“His vision for our athletic department really aligned with what we already had, and also, I felt like he could really take us further than we’ve already come,” Abruzzo said. “I’m really excited to see what he can pull out of our coaches, and how he can take our coaches, now, to the next level.”

When asked what aspects of Meade’s athletic department he would like to implement at Severna Park, Rutledge explained that the most important aspect is to maintain class, character and respect.

“You learn to respect everybody for the effort that they put in and what I always call their heart,” he said. “Is their heart in the right spot? Are they trying to do what’s best for the kids? Are they trying to do what’s best for the program? Are they trying to represent our community in a strong way?

“I don’t necessarily need to agree with the way coaches are running a program, with the exception of the vision of making sure there is pride and passion.”

Rutledge is excited to work with Severna Park High School’s athletes and faculty, and he promised “to make sure that the consistency of strength in every program continues on, and that the traditions of Severna Park are held to the high standards that were set long before me.”

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