D.W. Rutledge​

D.W. Rutledge grew up in Houston, but he always will be inextricably linked with Judson High School’s football tradition. Rutledge coached at Judson for 21 seasons, four as the Rockets’ defensive coordinator and the last 17 as head coach, before retiring in 2001 to take an executive position with the Texas High School Coaches Association. Rutledge guided Judson to four state championships and was defensive coordinator on the 1983 team that won the Rockets’ first state crown. Judson Stadium was renamed D.W. Rutledge Stadium in 2006. ​

​Rutledge compiled a 198-31-5 record and led Judson to 16 playoff appearances during his 17-year tenure as head coach. Under him, the Rockets won state titles in 1988 (by forfeit), 1992, 1993 and 1995, and advanced to the state final in 1990, 1996 and 1998. His teams won 12 District titles and 10 Regional titles.​

A Texas Lutheran graduate, Rutledge was the first coach Frank Arnold hired when he became Judson head coach in 1980. The Rockets advanced to the state semifinals for the first time two years later. Rutledge succeeded Arnold in 1984 and coached Judson through the 2000 season. Judson’s defenses consistently ranked among the best in the region under Rutledge, who was an All-America Rutledge began his coaching an assistant coach at San Marcos High School in 1975. He coached at San Marcos for one year before joining Jim Wacker, his college coach, at North Dakota State. He was also an assistant at Holmes High School and Southwest Texas State before going to Judson in 1980. ​

Rutledge was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor in 2005, and was the Express-News Sportsman of the Year in 1998. He received the Tom Landry Award in 2000 as “a positive role model and a credit to the coaching profession,” and was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 2003. Rutledge has been executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association since 2004.​