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At 27, Trent Short is one of the nation’s youngest college basketball head coaches.
And as he prepares to take over the Tallahassee State College men’s basketball program, he believes his youth is one of his biggest strengths, not a liability.
“I’m young, and I’m super energetic,” Short told the Tallahassee Democrat in his new on-campus office.
“But then I tell the guys I’m not their friend, even though I’m 27 years old. I’m nobody’s friend, not even my staff. I’m your coach, I’m your boss ― it’s all about business. Once they graduate here, I’m your friend for life. And so making sure you distinguish that difference. You take care of them off the floor. All the things they deal with, I went through five to eight years ago, so I can really relate to the guys and help them get through the struggles and problems they face, which I think really helps.”
Short said his program will be built around four goals every season: winning an outright Panhandle Conference title, capturing the NJCAA Region 8 championship, reaching the national tournament’s Final Four, and graduating every player.
Short wants his teams to be defined by toughness and physicality.
“The biggest thing I want to do is win an outright Panhandle Conference, then set up to go to a national tournament,” the newly hired head coach said.
In May, Short was part of a joint hiring announcement alongside the new Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation, Brett Rutherford.
On Wednesday, July 8, at noon, TSC will host an on-campus press conference in Room 161 of the Lifetime Sports Complex. All are welcome.
Short succeeds Corey Hendren, who spent three seasons leading the Eagles before heading to Atlanta for an assistant coaching job at NCAA Division I program Georgia State. Hendren compiled a 61-34 overall record and coached TSC to a No. 6 national ranking to end the season.
In 2026, TSC won a share of the Panhandle title, and Hendren was named one of the league’s co-coaches of the year in his final season in the Capital City. That success reinforced the program’s status as one of the NJCAA’s best.
Short inherits a program shaped by coaches such as Mike Gillespie, Eddie Barnes, and Rick Cabrera.
And he’s familiar with the Eagles’ national prominence.
His first-ever in-person college basketball game as a kid was a matchup between Tallahassee State (then Tallahassee Community College) and his hometown school, Pensacola State.
“It’s big shoes to fill,” Short said of his first head coaching gig. “I’m hoping we continue to have that legacy Tallahassee’s had.”
Before TSC, Short worked at his now-rival Chipola College as the associate head coach on Donnie Tyndall’s staff. Tyndall taught the new TSC coach the importance of attention to detail and player and staff management, lessons Short hopes will help him transition into his first head coaching role.
“He really prepared me to be ready to step into these shoes and do this job,” Short said. “You see kind of the standard Chipola carries themselves at, and why not bring that here?”
Chipola captured two Panhandle Conference championships and reached the NJCAA Division I’s Sweet 16 round with Short as an assistant.
Other coaching stops include Jones College and graduate assistant experience at the University of Mobile and Central Methodist University. As a player, Short was a standout at Pace High School and holds the three-point record at his college alma mater, the University of Mobile. The Pensacola native celebrated his 27th birthday on June 24 as he prepares for his first season as a college head coach.
The Eagles’ roster includes four players who transferred from Chipola to be the “backbone” of the program, Short said. A trio of holdovers from last season, Trey Card, Alex Jasquith, and Damijan Spasojevic, remained in Tallahassee to play for Short.
The coach added that he went with a transfer-heavy approach to build his inaugural TSC Eagles roster.
“I’ve got an older group, I’ve got a mature group,” Short said. “And I think that’s the biggest thing I’m excited about. We’re going to have a really good group.”
Under Short, TSC plans to play an up-tempo style that Short hopes will attract fans to the Bill Hebrock Eagledome.
Short believes his age helps him relate to today’s players and the fast-paced style they prefer.
“I want to play 80-plus possessions a game, and let’s score points because the guys want to do that,” Short said. “That’s another thing about being a young coach, you want the guys to enjoy doing this. The promise I made to them was we’re going to play fast and free offensively.”
Defensively, the Eagles will showcase “physicality and toughness,” similar to what Chipola’s top-10 defense did in 2026.
“I’m very, very intense and demanding,” Short said. “We’re going to guard. That’s going to be our mold. I’d rather win a game 42-38 than 142-38.”
Before the Eagles tip off this winter, the community will have its first chance to meet Short. He will host a Nike Basketball Camp from July 13-17 for boys and girls ages 8 to 15.
Parents can register their children for the weeklong camp on the US Sports Camp website.
“I want fans to get out here and come out to support us,” Short said. “I’m excited to start doing some things in the community with these guys, and when we tip off, I think it’s going to be a brand of basketball people are really going to want to come watch. It’s going to be very, very exciting.”
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat under the USA TODAY Network.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Meet Trent Short, the 27-year-old set to lead TSC basketball
Continue reading...
And as he prepares to take over the Tallahassee State College men’s basketball program, he believes his youth is one of his biggest strengths, not a liability.
“I’m young, and I’m super energetic,” Short told the Tallahassee Democrat in his new on-campus office.
“But then I tell the guys I’m not their friend, even though I’m 27 years old. I’m nobody’s friend, not even my staff. I’m your coach, I’m your boss ― it’s all about business. Once they graduate here, I’m your friend for life. And so making sure you distinguish that difference. You take care of them off the floor. All the things they deal with, I went through five to eight years ago, so I can really relate to the guys and help them get through the struggles and problems they face, which I think really helps.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Short said his program will be built around four goals every season: winning an outright Panhandle Conference title, capturing the NJCAA Region 8 championship, reaching the national tournament’s Final Four, and graduating every player.
Short wants his teams to be defined by toughness and physicality.
“The biggest thing I want to do is win an outright Panhandle Conference, then set up to go to a national tournament,” the newly hired head coach said.
Inside Trent Short's path to his first head coaching job with TSC basketball
In May, Short was part of a joint hiring announcement alongside the new Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation, Brett Rutherford.
On Wednesday, July 8, at noon, TSC will host an on-campus press conference in Room 161 of the Lifetime Sports Complex. All are welcome.
Short succeeds Corey Hendren, who spent three seasons leading the Eagles before heading to Atlanta for an assistant coaching job at NCAA Division I program Georgia State. Hendren compiled a 61-34 overall record and coached TSC to a No. 6 national ranking to end the season.
You must be registered for see images attach
In 2026, TSC won a share of the Panhandle title, and Hendren was named one of the league’s co-coaches of the year in his final season in the Capital City. That success reinforced the program’s status as one of the NJCAA’s best.
Short inherits a program shaped by coaches such as Mike Gillespie, Eddie Barnes, and Rick Cabrera.
And he’s familiar with the Eagles’ national prominence.
His first-ever in-person college basketball game as a kid was a matchup between Tallahassee State (then Tallahassee Community College) and his hometown school, Pensacola State.
“It’s big shoes to fill,” Short said of his first head coaching gig. “I’m hoping we continue to have that legacy Tallahassee’s had.”
Before TSC, Short worked at his now-rival Chipola College as the associate head coach on Donnie Tyndall’s staff. Tyndall taught the new TSC coach the importance of attention to detail and player and staff management, lessons Short hopes will help him transition into his first head coaching role.
“He really prepared me to be ready to step into these shoes and do this job,” Short said. “You see kind of the standard Chipola carries themselves at, and why not bring that here?”
Chipola captured two Panhandle Conference championships and reached the NJCAA Division I’s Sweet 16 round with Short as an assistant.
You must be registered for see images attach
Other coaching stops include Jones College and graduate assistant experience at the University of Mobile and Central Methodist University. As a player, Short was a standout at Pace High School and holds the three-point record at his college alma mater, the University of Mobile. The Pensacola native celebrated his 27th birthday on June 24 as he prepares for his first season as a college head coach.
Trent Short provides a look at his inaugural TSC men's basketball roster
The Eagles’ roster includes four players who transferred from Chipola to be the “backbone” of the program, Short said. A trio of holdovers from last season, Trey Card, Alex Jasquith, and Damijan Spasojevic, remained in Tallahassee to play for Short.
The coach added that he went with a transfer-heavy approach to build his inaugural TSC Eagles roster.
“I’ve got an older group, I’ve got a mature group,” Short said. “And I think that’s the biggest thing I’m excited about. We’re going to have a really good group.”
Trent Short outlines vision for TSC basketball
Under Short, TSC plans to play an up-tempo style that Short hopes will attract fans to the Bill Hebrock Eagledome.
Short believes his age helps him relate to today’s players and the fast-paced style they prefer.
“I want to play 80-plus possessions a game, and let’s score points because the guys want to do that,” Short said. “That’s another thing about being a young coach, you want the guys to enjoy doing this. The promise I made to them was we’re going to play fast and free offensively.”
Defensively, the Eagles will showcase “physicality and toughness,” similar to what Chipola’s top-10 defense did in 2026.
“I’m very, very intense and demanding,” Short said. “We’re going to guard. That’s going to be our mold. I’d rather win a game 42-38 than 142-38.”
Trent Short to teach the next generation at his first TSC basketball camp
Don’t miss your chance to train with Head Coach Trent Short at the Nike Full Day Camp!
Spots are filling up fast so sign up today before they’re gone!
Register Here: https://t.co/z2E3M6790qpic.twitter.com/4C8MCShlhe
— Tallahassee State College Athletics (@TSCeagles) July 6, 2026
Before the Eagles tip off this winter, the community will have its first chance to meet Short. He will host a Nike Basketball Camp from July 13-17 for boys and girls ages 8 to 15.
Parents can register their children for the weeklong camp on the US Sports Camp website.
“I want fans to get out here and come out to support us,” Short said. “I’m excited to start doing some things in the community with these guys, and when we tip off, I think it’s going to be a brand of basketball people are really going to want to come watch. It’s going to be very, very exciting.”
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat under the USA TODAY Network.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Meet Trent Short, the 27-year-old set to lead TSC basketball
Continue reading...
