South Alabama basketball adds Division II head coach to staff
Mark Rutledge was head coach at Southern Arkansas last two seasons
Olivia Bennett 
South Alabama men's basketball continues to bolster its coaching staff, announcing the addition of Mark Rutledge to the fold.
A Proven Track Record
Rutledge arrives in Mobile following a two-season stint as the head coach at Southern Arkansas, where he compiled a 23-33 record. His background includes significant experience at the Division II level, highlighted by two seasons as the associate head coach at Angelo State and four seasons on the staff at Henderson State.
Building the Program
Head coach Richie Riley expressed high expectations for the program's newest hire. "Mark is a tireless worker, and that has led to his climb in the coaching ranks," Riley said. "He’s known as an elite recruiter, but what excites me the most is how he teaches the game and gets guys better. The energy and enthusiasm he brings is truly contagious, both on the court and in the office. We’re pumped to get Mark and his wonderful family to Mobile."
Staff Refresh
Rutledge is the latest newcomer to the staff, joining Will Braden, formerly of Central Arkansas. These additions come as 205focus.com notes the team looks to fill three vacancies created when three coaches left for other jobs: Rodney Crawford joined Marquette, Riley Conroy headed to Furman, and Ogi Vasiljevic moved to North Carolina State.
Orin Bailey Jr. remains as the lone returner from last season's on-court staff. The Jaguars are coming off a 22-12 campaign that concluded with a first-round appearance in the NIT against Auburn.
