Matt Larry enters his fourth year as the head baseball coach for the Shorter College baseball program after a nine-year stint as the assistant coach at Shorter. Larry, a native of Stone Mountain, Ga., attended Clarkston High School where he was selected to the Dugout Club’s East All-Star team in 1988. He played two years at Dekalb Junior College as a catcher and finished his college career at Shorter College. At Shorter, he was a member of the 1991 Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship team and in 1992, the District 25 Runners-up. He finished his career by being awarded All-Conference and All-District honors as a catcher in 1992.
Larry was the architect behind the 1998 and 2003 GACC (Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference) Championship teams and he launched Shorter’s Junior Varsity program in 2004. His tireless recruiting efforts paid off in those years and he continues to keep the Hawks competitive year-in and year-out in the SSAC. Larry was awarded the 2006 Georgia Dugout Club Coach of the Year.
Larry earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Shorter in 1993 and began his coaching career here in 1994 as an assistant. He earned his master’s degree in education from Jacksonville State University in 1998. Coach Larry is married to the former Brig Bagley of Rome, Ga., and they have two children: Alivia and Bagley.
Bryon Hale enters his third season as assistant coach on the Shorter College staff. His primary responsibilities include coaching the Hawks pitchers and overseeing Shorter’s recruiting efforts. Before coming to Shorter, he served as pitching coach for Labette Community College in Parsons, Kan., under head coach Aaron Keal.
Coach Hale is a native of Columbus, Kan., where he was an All-Conference and All-Area selection at Columbus Unified High School. He spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career as a relief pitcher at Labette, leading the Cardinals in appearances his sophomore year. Hale finished his college career at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan., where he earned a degree in business administration. While at MidAmerica, Hale set the school’s single-season record for saves with 11, was an All-Conference selection in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, and was an NAIA Region V Scholar Athlete. He recently completed his Master of Business Administration degree at Shorter College and resides in Rome, Ga.
Andy Henderson - Assistant Coach
Andy Henderson enters his third season as assistant coach on the Shorter College staff. His primary responsibilities include coaching the Hawks hitters and catchers, and working with recruiting. Before coming to Shorter, he served as head baseball coach at Pepperell High School in 1997, where he guided the Dragons to their first state playoff appearance in 17 years and to three playoff berths in four years. Before coaching at Pepperell, Henderson coached at Jacksonville State University as a graduate assistant.
A native of Newnan, Ga., Henderson graduated from Newnan High School, where he was a member of the 1991 State AAAA Championship Team and earned MVP honors as a catcher. Upon graduation, Coach Henderson continued his playing career at Southern Union Community College in 1993, where he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors his first year and All-State and All-District honors the following year. In 1995, Henderson finished his college career at Jacksonville State, where he earned a degree in health and physical education. While at JSU, he was second in the nation (NCAA Div II) in doubles as a junior and earned first team All-TAAC as a catcher his senior year. Henderson is married to the former Suzie Schmucker of Newnan, Ga., and they have three children: Ben, Chris and Megan. They reside in Silver Creek, Ga.
Brandon Whitener - Graduate Assistant
Andy Henderson enters his third season as assistant coach on the Shorter College staff. His primary responsibilities include coaching the Hawks hitters and catchers, and working with recruiting. Before coming to Shorter, he served as head baseball coach at Pepperell High School in 1997, where he guided the Dragons to their first state playoff appearance in 17 years and to three playoff berths in four years. Before coaching at Pepperell, Henderson coached at Jacksonville State University as a graduate assistant.
A native of Newnan, Ga., Henderson graduated from Newnan High School, where he was a member of the 1991 State AAAA Championship Team and earned MVP honors as a catcher. Upon graduation, Coach Henderson continued his playing career at Southern Union Community College in 1993, where he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors his first year and All-State and All-District honors the following year. In 1995, Henderson finished his college career at Jacksonville State, where he earned a degree in health and physical education. While at JSU, he was second in the nation (NCAA Div II) in doubles as a junior and earned first team All-TAAC as a catcher his senior year. Henderson is married to the former Suzie Schmucker of Newnan, Ga., and they have three children: Ben, Chris and Megan. They reside in Silver Creek, Ga.
