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Tallahassee State College has appointed Brett Rutherford as the new Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation, and Trent Short as the head men's basketball coach. The announcement was made on May 15, 2026.
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Tallahassee State College made joint hires for its athletic leadership. The school announced on Friday, May 15, 2026, that Trent Short has been hired as the Eagles' head men's basketball coach and that Brett Rutherford is the new Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation
Tallahassee State College has made joint hires for its athletic leadership.
The school announced on Friday, May 15, that Brett Rutherford is the new Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation, and Trent Short has been hired as the Eaglesā head menās basketball coach.
Both will bring experience and student-focused leadership to one of the premier junior college programs in Florida.
āWe are excited to welcome Brett Rutherford and Trent Short to Tallahassee State College,ā Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Sheri Rowland said in the press release.
āBoth bring tremendous energy, leadership, and a deep commitment to student success. These hires reflect our continued investment in Eagle Athletics and our belief in the important role athletics plays in building community, pride, and opportunities for our students.ā
Rutherford, a Florida State University graduate, previously served as TSCās Assistant for Athletics and Communication, Lead Broadcaster, and Sports Information Assistant before leaving in 2023 to become Wake Technical Community Collegeās Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations.
As the new athletic director, Rutherford will replace . Rowland served as the interim during the search.
Brett Rutherford has been appointed as the new Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation at Tallahassee State College.
Trent Short was hired as the head men's basketball coach on May 15, 2026.
Both Brett Rutherford and Trent Short bring experience and a student-focused leadership approach to the college's athletic programs.
The hires are significant as they aim to enhance the leadership of one of Florida's premier junior college athletic programs.

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Rutherford will start on July 1.
āTallahassee State College is a special institution with a proud history of success in athletics,ā Rutherford said. āI look forward to building on that strong foundation and continuing to elevate the student-athlete experience, strengthen our programs, and ensure athletics reflects the excellence of the College. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Rowland and [Tallahassee State President Dr. Jim Murdaugh] for this opportunity, and I canāt wait to get to work.ā
Short brings nine years of college coaching prowess, holding a 117-45 record. He most recently served as the associate head coach at Chipola College, helping the Indians to multiple appearances in the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament and a Sweet 16 berth in 2025-26.
The new TSC hoops coach replaces Corey Hendren, who left in April to become an NCAA Division I assistant coach at Georgia State University.
Short has also coached at Jones College, the University of Mobile, and Central Methodist University. Throughout his career, heās been integral in developing players who went on to play at Division I schools, including Florida A&M, the University of Buffalo, Louisiana Tech, Texas Christian University, and Western Kentucky.
Short has a bachelorās degree in kinesiology and a masterās degree in higher education and leadership from the University of Mobile. As a player, he was a two-time all-conference selection and still holds the schoolās three-point shooting record.
āIām incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead the menās basketball program at Tallahassee State College,ā Short said.
āTSC has a strong tradition of success, and Iām excited to build relationships with our student-athletes, campus community, and fans. My goal is to develop young men who compete at a high level, succeed academically, and represent the College with pride.ā
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of theĀ Florida A&M RattlersĀ at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage onĀ RattlerNews.comĀ and contact him via email atĀ GDThomas@Tallahassee.comĀ or on the app formerly known as TwitterĀ @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TSC hires Brett Rutherford as AD, Brett Short for basketball coach