Former CHS star has new career

Matt Rutledge, a two-sport star at Carson High not too many years ago, has embarked on a new career.

Rutledge, who graduated from the University of Nevada in 2013, is now a certified strength and conditioning coach in the Oakland Athletics farm system. Rutledge’s education included learning about strength, conditioning, nutrition, speed and agility, and weight management.

“Once I got certificated (for strength and conditioning and being a personal trainer), I went on line and saw there were five or six teams looking for strength and conditioning coaches,” said Rutledge, who has been helping current CHS basketball coach Carlos Mendeguia with the conditioning this year. “I contacted all of them, and I got a call from the Athletics.”

Rutledge went to Arizona for spring training, and then stayed behind for extended spring training. He was assigned to the Athletics’ short-season franchise in Burlington (Vermon), a member in the New York-Penn League. Teams in short-season leagues play approximately 70 games.

Next year, Rutledge will be with Oakland’s team in the Midwest League (Long A), which is located in Beloit, Wis.

When Rutledge isn’t working for the Athletics, he has the freedom to pursue other things. He’s constantly re-educating himself in the strength and conditioning field. It’s an ever-changing profession, thus it’s important to keep up with the newest trends.

He also gives baseball lessons in Reno. He was a member of Gary Powers’ Wolf Pack baseball teams in 2010 and 2011. He pitched and played infield for the Senators.

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I’ll say this right now. Jim Tomsula won’t last two seasons as head coach of the 49ers.

What’s happening isn’t all Tomsula’s fault, however, but the had coach usually takes the fall. You can only coach the hand you’re dealt, and the cupboard was bare when he took over for Jim Harbaugh, whose relationship with GM Trent Baalke became toxic.

As one friend pointed out, Harbaugh has immediately fixed programs when he’s taken over (Stanford, University of San Diego, 49ers and Michigan). He has enjoyed success wherever he’s been. He’s a hardhead, though, and no doubt his style can grate on players and team personnel alike. He’s stubborn as former Chicago coach Mike Ditka pointed out a few years ago.

The 49ers were ripped apart by the retirements of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland plus the departure of Justin Smith. Those are three big pieces who had to be replaced in a hurry. And then Aldon Smith had more off-field issues and was released. The team failed to re-sign running back Frank Gore and offensive lineman Mike Iupati. Bad moves to be sure.

Baalke, more than anybody else, is responsible for the 49ers’ downfall. If fingers aren’t already pointed at him, they should start soon.

San Francisco fans are going to find over the long haul, if it comes to that, Blaine Gabbert on his best day can’t hold Colin Kaepernick’s jock strap. He’s nowhere near as athletic as Kaepernick, and he doesn’t have the arm strength. Kaepernick’s line hasn’t been great protecting him, and the loss of wide receiver Michael Crabtree was pretty big. How did Vernon Davis go from being a 50-catch guy to becoming expendable for a couple of sixth-round draft picks? He and Kap never got on the same page, and that’s a shame.