'He's a no-brainer': TCC AD Chuck Moore talks Cabrera's tenure, provides update on new hire
Next up for Tallahassee Community College's athletic director Chuck Moore is hiring a new men's basketball coach.
This comes after former Eagles coach Rick Cabrera resigned after two seasons to take the head job at NCAA Division I Northwestern State.
Moore, in his second year as TCC's athletic director, had a year to work alongside Cabrera. Cabrera was hired in June 2021 from Arkansas State by former TCC AD Rob Chaney.
"I couldn't ask for a better human being and better coach to be in that position," Moore said. "From my interview to the first day on the job, I didn't have any question on how he was going to run his program and it came to fruition.
"You see the success on and off the court that people don't see ― the growth and the maturity of the players that he helped bring along. It showed because that's the type of coach and man he is.
"Those are the things that I look for as an athletic director."
Moore has history of coaching basketball along with being the director of athletics at Richard Bland College. He revived the school's athletic program and led RBC basketball to the 2015 NJCAA Division II Championship.
Moore's coaching background will likely assist him in hopefully filling Cabrera position quickly.
"I still know a lot of guys that are still coaching," Moore said. "Once it leaked out that [Cabrera] was on the shortlist for [NSU], my phone and his phone blew up. But, I really focused my efforts on our team last week during the national tournament.
"I was doing some stuff on the backend. I was working on a list before Rick even left just because I knew he wouldn't be here forever and I understood that. So, I had to be ahead of the game, so it will not take two months to hire somebody.
"The process is starting and hopefully we'll have someone officially by mid to late April."
Despite having a 122-38 overall record and national championship as a head coach prior to becoming TCC's athletic director, Moore said he has no interest to return to coaching.
"It's definitely crossed my mind. If I had dollar for every time someone has asked me that question, I'd go get a very nice dinner out somewhere ― maybe even buy a new car," Moore jokingly said. "I don't think it's in the cards anymore. I don't miss the lifestyle of coaching, but I do miss the relationships. The intensity and the development of games.
"God has put me in this position to be of influence on all student-athletes and the community. There's a reason he did not give me a coaching job and why Tallahassee hired me as their athletic director."
MORE TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE COVERAGE
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Rick Cabrera leaves a legacy that Chuck Moore hopes to emulate as TCC coaching search begins
Cabrera's departure to NSU came on the heels of a Panhandle Conference championship and Final Four finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
He also was named the Panhandle Conference's 2022-23 Co-Coach of the Year with Chipola's Donnie Tyndall and Northwest Florida State's Steve DeMeo after their teams were in a three-way tie in the conference.
"[Cabrera] had the pedigree before coming here," Moore said. "I was hoping to steal one more year out of him, but he's a no-brainer. If I was at the next level, I wouldn't hesitate to hire him too because he's the type of coach that should be at that level.
"It makes me proud that he came through Tallahassee and represented us the way it's supposed to be done. It's a beautiful thing."
Whoever replaces Cabrera will join a program that has hung seven Panhandle Conference banners in the rafters of the Bill Hebrock Eagledome.
"Rick Cabrera has left a legacy on this program. That's why I want to hire another coach of his caliber," Moore said. "It was an honor to work with and be beside him as he was trying to do something here that would not only better this program, but his life, career, and family. I love seeing the fruits of his labor come to fruition. I'm thrilled for him and his wonderful wife and kids. I wish him all the luck.
"We're building on what has been established at TCC and we're hoping to continue this type of success. It's my job to find the right person to help build on that. I take that very seriously and it's an honor to be in a position to make this decision.
"Now, it's time to hire the next Rick Cabrera."
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: Tallahassee CC: AD Chuck Moore excited to make coach hire for men's hoops
