Sally Rutherford - Field Hockey Coach - Syracuse University Athletics

Sally Rutherford

Title:
Assistant Coach

Bringing 180 international appearances to the sidelines, Sally Rutherford has joined the Syracuse University field hockey team as an assistant coach for the 2023 season.

Rutherford, who made 180 appearances for the New Zealand national hockey team, the Blacksticks, will work closely with the veteran goalkeeping crew at Syracuse.

Rutherford, who earned a PhD from the University of Auckland in physiology and bioengineering in 2015, represented New Zealand for a decade, playing in 181 games from 2009-19, including a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. While playing with the Blacksticks, Rutherford helped the side capture gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, following a bronze-medal finish in 2014. Rutherford was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the 2015 and 2017 World League Finals and captured New Zealand National Hockey League titles in 2013 and 2017.

A dual-sport athlete at the international level, Rutherford was a member of the New Zealand lacrosse team, playing in three world cups (2005, 2009, 2013).

Off the pitch, Rutherford earned a PhD in physiology and bioengineering with a thesis on "Myocardial Infarct Border Zone Structure and Its Effects on Electrical Function of the Heart", graduating in May 2015 from the University of Auckland. Rutherford carries a bachelor's degree with honors in biomedical science, majoring in physiology from the same institution. Rutherford earned a postgraduate certificate in sport and exercise science in 2017 and holds a level two certificate in personal training.