'Forever in my heart': Rick Cabrera recaps time with Tallahassee Community College basketball

Goodbyes can be difficult.

Especially to a place that shaped and prepared you for your next opportunity.

Tallahassee Community College men's basketball coach Rick Cabrera enters a new chapter of his career in Natchitoches, Louisiana, as the new coach at NCAA Division I Northwestern State of the Southland Conference.

The New York City native will leave Tallahassee Wednesday after two years. He'll be formally introduced as the NSU Demons' new coach Thursday.

"It's a tough moment, but it's also joyous to move on to bigger and better things," Cabrera, 47, said. “[Tallahassee] has been riding with me and the players since I arrived. The school and the players have supported me.

"I've met a lot of great people that I'll be friends with for a long time. Tallahassee will forever be in my heart and you'll see me here again soon."

Cabrera left TCC valuable parting gifts that included a Panhandle Conference championship and Final Four run in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Men's Tournament this season.

The Eagles finished 31-6 after losing to eventual champion John. A. Logan 94-89 in last Friday's semifinals.

"A better ending would've been a national championship, but I'm fine with this," Cabrera said. "It's a credit my players and my staff. I'm walking out of Tallahassee with a big smile on my face and I'm happy we left our legacy here."

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While the Eagles were pursuing a national title in Hutchinson, Kansas, chatter began that Cabrera would be named NSU's coach to replace Corey Gipson. Gipson was named the coach at Austin-Peay in Tennessee.

Last Wednesday night, Cabrera confirmed in a press release from TCC that he would be leaving for Natchitoches at the season's end.

Cabrera doesn't believe the timing of his announcement impacted TCC's performance in the national tournament. Especially since he was upfront with the team before it became public knowledge.

"I was very honest with them because I did not want them to find out from the internet before they heard it from me. They gave me a big round of applause and was very, very excited for me. I didn't sense one distraction or any negative energy," Cabrera said.

"But I had to reiterate that it wasn't about me ― it was about them. I was going to coach how I normally coach, but I had to let them know to play how they normally play. And they did by giving themselves a shot. I'm so proud that they stuck through it."

Cabrera collected three junior college conference titles between his time at Lackawanna College (2004-2008) and TCC (2021-2023). He was named the Panhandle Conference's 2022-23 Co-Coach of the Year, alongside Chipola's Donnie Tyndall and Northwest Florida State's Steve DeMeo, after the teams tied for the conference title.

Cabrera also has Division I experience as an assistant at Tennessee at Chattanooga (2008-2012), his alma mater Tennessee Tech (2012-2017), and Austin Peay (2017-2019).

Cabrera is excited to lead the Demons, who went 22-11 this season.

"It's Division I ― the creme de la creme of where everyone wants to go," Cabrera said. "I've been prepared for this for a long time and it's exciting just because it's another challenge.

"I'm going to put my best foot forward and let the chips fall where they may."

Rick Cabrera bids one final farewell to Tallahassee, provides TCC’s next coach with words of advice

Cabrera knew the pressure of winning would coexist with coaching in a city that also features Division I programs in Florida A&M and Florida State.

However, he was unaware of the outpouring support that he would receive from the Big Bend area.

"The city has had tradition before I got here, so I knew that winning was a huge factor," Cabrera said. "When I got here, I didn't know that I was going to receive the embracement from the city ― especially this year.

"The city and the college came out and supported. They embraced our guys, myself and and my staff that I didn't expect."

Cabrera believes his successor will experience similar support.

"Embrace the community and the college. Show people you care and they'll serve you back because that's what it's all about. Enjoy the process because this school takes care of you and will have the support from me and the school," Cabrera said.

"You will have to get after it, but the recruiting will handle itself because the tradition sells itself. But you will have to get good players because every night in conference is going to be a dogfight."

Cabrera, along with wife Danielle, three sons Jaden, Braxton and Landon and daughter, Mikayla, offered a heartfelt thanks to TCC and Tallahassee.

"A huge to thank you to Tallahassee," Cabrera said. "You have a friend in me and my family for many, many years. I appreciate [former TCC athletic director] Rob Chaney for giving me this opportunity because with out this, I don't know if I'd be going to Northwestern State.

"I owe a lot to this college and the people that made the decisions ― Rob, [TCC vice president for student affairs] Sheri Rowland, [TCC president] Jim Murdaugh and everyone that was on the committee.

"I'm forever grateful."

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Rick Cabrera says goodbye to TCC, headed to Northwestern State