Athens Rock Lobsters

Athens Rock Lobsters Change Coaching Leadership in Off‑Season Shake‑up

Business Highlight
June 23, 2025•2 min read

Athens Rock Lobsters Change Coaching Leadership in Off‑Season Shake‑up

Athens, GA—As summer kicks off in the Classic City, a fresh wave of excitement sweeps into our sports scene: the Athens Rock Lobsters—our very own professional ice hockey team—have made a major coaching announcement.

Just two months after completing their inaugural 2024–25 season, the Rock Lobsters front office has named Garrett Rutledge as the new general manager and head coach for the upcoming 2025–26 campaign. This move officially takes effect following the closing of the season and signals a new chapter for the team.

🎙 Who is Garrett Rutledge?

  • A decorated coach with notable experience in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL).

  • Previously served as head coach of the Carolina Thunderbirds.

  • Comes off stints as an assistant coach with Ontario Hockey League (OHL) teams, including the Saginaw Spirit and Flint Firebirds.

Rutledge replaces Steve Martinson, who led the Rock Lobsters through their inaugural season and earned FPHL Coach of the Year honors—an impressive legacy for the franchise to build on.

🏒 What This Means for Athens Hockey

  1. Fresh Vision & Tactics
    New leadership often brings new styles. Rutledge’s experiences in both major junior and pro levels hint at dynamic strategies, player development focus, and tactical innovation on ice.

  2. Local Boost
    Laying down roots in Athens, Rutledge will heighten community ties—from youth hockey clinics to fan meet‑and‑greets at the Akins Ford Arena.

  3. Aiming Higher
    The Lobsters posted a strong record in their debut—43 wins, 10 losses, and 3 overtime losses out of 56 total games, finishing first in standings but bowing out in the playoff quarterfinals. The goal: deeper playoff runs ahead.

  4. Momentum Maintained
    Retaining core staff while bringing in Rutledge keeps the energy high—setting the stage for a potentially breakthrough season.

🗓 What’s Next

With off‑season training ramping up, coaching camps prepping, and the schedule releasing later this summer, Athens fans are already buzzing. Is this the season the Rock Lobsters break through?

Stay tuned to the Athens Chronicle for the full lineup announcements, preorder season tickets, and the first glimpses of Rutledge’s leadership in action when the team hits the ice again.

From the Frozen North to the Deep South, Athens is making waves in hockey—and with a fresh coach at the helm, the Rock Lobsters are poised to make this season one for the history books.

Tom Hoffman is a veteran journalist and the grizzled heart of the Athens Chronicle, where he has reported for over four decades. Known for his dogged determination, sharp pen, and old-school ethics, Tom has become a local legend in Athens, Georgia—a storyteller with ink in his veins and justice on his mind. Born and raised in the foothills of the Appalachians, Tom’s career began in the early 1970s covering labor disputes and civil rights marches across the South. A graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism, he cut his teeth chasing city corruption, corporate scandals, and courtroom dramas, earning the respect of readers and colleagues alike. Tom’s signature style is hard-hitting yet deeply human. He has a unique ability to uncover hidden truths while giving voice to the voiceless. Over the years, he’s won numerous state press awards, not for chasing accolades, but because of his relentless pursuit of the truth—often filed from the back booth of his favorite Athens diner, a legal pad in one hand and a cup of black coffee in the other. Now semi-retired but still sharp as a tack, Tom focuses on longform pieces that probe deep into regional politics, environmental concerns, and working-class issues. His voice remains a trusted pillar in the community—gravelly, wise, and unwavering. When he's not chasing a lead or editing copy with a red pen, Tom can be found tending his garden, feeding the stray cats that wander onto his porch, or telling stories that are too wild to print—but all of them true.

Tom Hoffman

Tom Hoffman is a veteran journalist and the grizzled heart of the Athens Chronicle, where he has reported for over four decades. Known for his dogged determination, sharp pen, and old-school ethics, Tom has become a local legend in Athens, Georgia—a storyteller with ink in his veins and justice on his mind. Born and raised in the foothills of the Appalachians, Tom’s career began in the early 1970s covering labor disputes and civil rights marches across the South. A graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism, he cut his teeth chasing city corruption, corporate scandals, and courtroom dramas, earning the respect of readers and colleagues alike. Tom’s signature style is hard-hitting yet deeply human. He has a unique ability to uncover hidden truths while giving voice to the voiceless. Over the years, he’s won numerous state press awards, not for chasing accolades, but because of his relentless pursuit of the truth—often filed from the back booth of his favorite Athens diner, a legal pad in one hand and a cup of black coffee in the other. Now semi-retired but still sharp as a tack, Tom focuses on longform pieces that probe deep into regional politics, environmental concerns, and working-class issues. His voice remains a trusted pillar in the community—gravelly, wise, and unwavering. When he's not chasing a lead or editing copy with a red pen, Tom can be found tending his garden, feeding the stray cats that wander onto his porch, or telling stories that are too wild to print—but all of them true.

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