​Brett Rutherford has come full circle to Tallahassee, leaving Tallahassee Community College for a return to Tallahassee State College, where his heart has always thrived at 444 Appleyard Drive. In his introductory press conference on Wednesday, July 8, Rutherford described TSC as “a very special place” as he stepped into the role of Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation. After serving as Wake Technical Community College’s Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations, Rutherford returned to Tallahassee State College to lead its athletic and campus recreation programs, taking over from Chuck Moore, who had held the post for four years. His first day in the athletic director’s office was July 1.
“I’ve been gone for a few years. Some things have changed. A lot has stayed the same, and I’ve remained an Eagle fan from afar through those years,” Rutherford said. His career with TSC previously began in 2021 as the Lead Broadcaster and Sports Information Assistant, and he was promoted in 2022 to Assistant for Athletics and Communication. He left TSC in September 2023 to join Wake Technical Community College in North Carolina as its Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations. In May, TSC announced Rutherford’s return as the new athletic director, marking the transition as he succeeds Dr. Sheri Rowland, the Vice President of Student Affairs and former interim athletic director, who described Rutherford’s appointment as a welcome-back moment rather than a welcome one.
Rowland highlighted Rutherford’s bright fit for the position, emphasizing the 26-year-old’s passion for student-athlete success and his clear vision for TSC athletics. “When we set out to hire our next director of athletics and campus recreation, we were looking for someone who understood the department from every angle, who was a good fit for our college culture, and who truly understood the role that athletics plays in higher education.” Rutherford’s ties to the area run deep; he hails from Riverview and grew up in a family of educators, a background that helped spark his enduring interest in college sports.
Rutherford’s path into athletics began while he was pursuing his degree at Florida State University. He first found opportunities to contribute to the Seminoles’ games by doing play-by-play from his Tallahassee apartment. That early experience would eventually lead to a pivotal moment when Luke Fay, the former voice of Eagles sports, invited him to the Bill Hebrock Eagledome to call a basketball game. That invitation helped catapult his career in athletics, setting the stage for his return to TSC as the director who will shape the department’s direction and success moving forward.
As Rutherford takes on this leadership role, he brings a blend of hands-on experience in broadcasting, communications, and athletics administration, with a local understanding of Tallahassee’s educational landscape. His trajectory—from on-air duties at Florida State to positions within TSC, then Wake Technical Community College, and back to TSC—demonstrates a commitment to student-athlete development and a philosophy that athletics serve as a vital component of the college experience.
In his new capacity, Rutherford faces the task of continuing to elevate TSC’s athletic programs, fostering a culture of achievement and resilience, and ensuring that student-athletes have the resources, guidance, and support necessary to excel both on the field and in the classroom. With his return to the fold, Rutherford is positioned to leverage his intimate knowledge of TSC’s culture and his broader experiences in collegiate athletics to drive innovation, collaboration, and success for Eagles sports and campus recreation for years to come.