He served as the head football coach at Washington University in St. Louis from 1917 to 1919 and at Oregon Agricultural College, now Oregon State University, from 1920 to 1923, compiling a career football coaching record of 28–19–6.

Dick Rutherford was the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers football team from 1920 to 1923.

In fact, in the 29 years the rivalry had been contested, Oregon Agricultural College had only beaten Oregon on the road on two other occasions, making this an era when most Beaver fans took it as a given that a trip "south to Lane County" was as good as a loss.

In the second quarter, Price took a Webfoot punt on his own 23-yard line and didn't stop until he had reached the Oregon end zone for the game's only score.

From 1920 to 1922, Rutherford also coached the Oregon State Beavers basketball team.