LCMR Girls Soccer

Coaching Experience

Coach Darren Rutherford is entering his fifth season as the head coach for the Lower Cape May Regional High School Girls Soccer team, coming in from his assistant coaching position for the Girl's team in 2019.  Coach Rutherford has had 13 years of coaching experience encompassing youth club and high school soccer.  Rutherford was a volunteer assistant with the LCMRHS Boys Soccer team for 5 seasons between 2011 and 2015, along with acting as a professional trainer and coach for the Cape Express Soccer Club from 2012 to 2018.  While with Cape Express, Rutherford trained and coached youth teams ranging from U10 boys to U18 Girls.  His U15 Girls Tidal Waves team won the SJGSL Spring Olympic Division (highest division) in 2015 along with a 2015 MSSL Spring College Showcase Championship.  In 2022, Coach Rutherford was named Cape Atlantic League Girl's Soccer Coach of the Year by nj.com.  In 2023 Coach Rutherford was named the CAL United Conference Coach of the Year for leading the Girl's Soccer team to a United Conference Championship.  Coach Rutherford holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) "F" coaching license, and looks to bring his knowledge and expertise in coaching youth soccer to the LCMRHS Girls Soccer program. 

Playing Experience

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As a local of Erma, NJ, Coach Rutherford played youth soccer for clubs including, Cape Express Soccer Club, Matchfit Academy, and Jersey Shore BOCA.  While playing for Jersey Shore BOCA's U17/U18 teams, Coach Rutherford was named to the 2004 Super Y League's Mid-Atlantic Region team where he was joined by players from NJ, PA, DE, MD, and VA to play games in Cocoa Beach, FL against regions from the North East and South East of the United States. 

As an athlete for LCMRHS, Coach Rutherford was a 4 year starter for the Boys Soccer team under SJ Soccer Hall of Fame coach Dave Smith.  In his Junior year, Coach Rutherford was a captain as well as a 2002 First Team Press of AC and CAL All-Star along with Honorable Mention All-State selection.  The 2002 Boys team also won the CAL championship.  Coach Rutherford was again a captain for his Senior season, along with being selected as a 2003 First Team Press of AC and CAL All-Star, along with an Honorable Mention All-State selection.

After high school Coach Rutherford started his college career at DI Rider University where he redshirted his Freshman year.  He then transferred to DI Fairleigh Dickinson University where he played 3 seasons as a defender under coach Seth Roland.  During his redshirt Freshman season, coach Rutherford was part of an FDU team that saw national acclaim reaching as high as a #7 ranking in the National Coaches Poll, beating teams such as Boston College, the University of Wisconsin and Yale.  

Coach Rutherford is currently a Special Education Teacher in the LCMR School District and lives in North Cape May with his wife Tracy and their son Gavin.