By Ken Jackson

Sports Writer

Mike Short, the offensive coordinator for two seasons at St. Cloud High School, was named as the Bulldogs new head coach Monday athletic director Chad Ansbaugh said.

Short, 36, replaces Bill Buldini, who led the team to a 7-4 record on the field in 2010. St. Cloud was forced to forfeit two wins over Osceola and Martin County to start the season for using an ineligible player. Buldini sat out of a 4A District 7 game against Edgewater as a result. Short served as head coach for that game.

"I'm excited, I'm really looking forward to the challenge," Short said. "I know where the program has been, and (former St. Cloud Coach) Mark (Jackson) really built something strong here."

Short coached in Sanford, N.C. from 2005-08 before coming to St. Cloud. From 2001-05 he was a football assistant and varsity wrestling coach at Gateway. He is a native of Muncie, Ind., and graduated from Ball State University in 1997.

See Thursday's News-Gazette sports section for further details.