By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech soccer team has found its latest piece to its coaching puzzle, as the Golden Eagles and head coach Steve Springthorpe announce the hiring of Jack Rushworth as an assistant coach.
Rushworth, who comes to Cookeville with an extensive goalkeeping background both as a Division I assistant and as a player, joins the purple and gold's staff following a banner year for TTU that saw the Golden Eagles claim their second-ever OVC regular-season title and first since 1998.
"We are excited to add Jack to our staff," Tech head coach Steve Springthorpe said. "We have been in search for an assistant to fill this role for a while now and we are thrilled that someone of Jack's caliber came forward in this process. We know he is going to do great things for our program in a lot of areas, and when you look specifically on the field, Jack has a strong goalkeeper background that will play a large role within our program. He played the position, he has coached the position at a high level and brings a ton of experience on many different levels ranging from mid-major Division I to 'Power 5' programs."
Rushworth's Tech tenure will begin following a year-long stint at the University of Florida as the club's goalkeeper coach last season. Prior to his time with the Gators, the native of York, England spent the 2021 campaign as goalkeeper coach for Utah State for an Aggie squad that went 13-6-3 overall, finished third in the Mountain West and made the MWC Tournament semifinals. Before coming to Logan, Utah, Rushworth enjoyed immense success as Penn State's volunteer coach during the 2020-21 season, helping the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten regular-season title and NCAA Tournament Round of 16 appearance.
"I am really excited to be coming to Tennessee Tech and am thankful to Steve [Springthorpe] for the role he has entrusted me with for a program that is this strong," Rushworth claimed. "I believe that Tennessee Tech has the potential to win more championships and become a regular in the NCAA Tournament. I hope to be able to help the program reach these heights and look forward to this opportunity."
Rushworth, who played collegiately at Tennessee Wesleyan, has Ohio Valley Conference ties after spending two seasons as graduate assistant and goalkeeper coach with former OVC school Austin Peay in 2018 and 2019. Rushworth started his collegiate coaching career with his alma mater, helping the Bulldogs to an Appalachian Athletic Conference championship and Elite 8 NAIA national tournament appearance in 2017.
"Jack has a fantastic personality and will be a perfect fit within the overall personality of our team and certainly within our coaching staff," Springthorpe said. "I'd imagine he's ready to get going and we are looking forward to having him hit the ground running."
Rushworth's playing career saw him suit up as a goalkeeper at TWU from 2014-18 and also played with the Knoxville Force of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2017 as well as with the Utah Rangers of the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) in 2022. Rushworth received his bachelor's degree in sports psychology in 2018 and completed his master's degree in coaching at Austin Peay in 2020. He holds a United Soccer Coaches goalkeeping diploma and a D license with U.S. Soccer.
Photo from University of Florida Athletic Communications
