Droze Returns: Hall of Fame Coach to Lead Tallahassee State College Women’s Cross Country and Track

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – April 20, 2026 - Tallahassee State College Athletics is proud to announce the return of Gary Droze as Head Coach of Women's Cross Country and Track, bringing with him decades of coaching excellence and a legacy deeply rooted in the Tallahassee running community.

Droze, a 2018 inductee into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame, is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished distance running coaches in the state. His career spans more than three decades, highlighted by championship success, athlete development, and a lifelong commitment to the sport.

"Gary Droze's impact on cross country and track in our region is unmatched," said Dr. Sheri Rowland, Vice President for Student Affairs and interim Director of Athletics. "His experience, leadership, and passion for student-athletes make him the ideal person to lead our women's program. We are excited to welcome him back to TSC."

Droze originally launched the College's cross country program in 2016, helping lay the foundation for what continues to grow today. He served as head coach at then-Tallahassee Community College until 2023.

During his previous tenure leading the program, Droze established TSC as a competitive force at the national level, with student-athletes earning All-American honors and qualifying for the NJCAA Track & Field Championships.

Before crossing into collegiate athletics, Droze built a legendary career at Maclay School, where he led the Marauders' cross country and track programs from 1993 through 2019. Under his leadership, the boys' cross country team captured five consecutive state championships from 1998 to 2002, while the girls' team earned state titles in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2005.

His coaching excellence has been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2013 Dairy Farmers Boys Track & Field Coach of the Year, the 2014 Florida Athletic Coaches' Association Girls Track Coach of the Year, and the 2015 Tallahassee Democrat Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year following a state runner-up finish.

Droze's passion for coaching began during his service in the United States Air Force. After competing for the U.S. Air Force Academy at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 1981, he went on to represent the United States at the World Military Cross Country Championships in Portugal in 1985. During that time, he

began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Choctawhatchee High School while stationed at Eglin Air Force Base.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy and later completed a master's degree in exercise physiology from Florida State University.

"I'm honored to return to Tallahassee State College and work with these student-athletes," said Droze. "This program has great potential, and I'm excited to help build on its foundation and continue growing the sport in our community."

With a proven record of success and a deep commitment to student-athlete development, Droze's return opens an exciting new chapter for TSC women's cross country and track