Steve Short

Dr. Steve Short recently entered his ninth season with the Denver Nuggets and currently serves as the vice president of sports medicine. He joined Denver in fall 2014 as the team’s physical therapist and assistant strength and conditioning coach. He is responsible for leading the development, collaboration, and integration of multidisciplinary evidence-based services delivered by the organization’s high-performance unit, which serves the Nuggets athletes and staff. 

In 2016, Short served as the lead performance coach for the German National Basketball Team en route to a EuroBasket qualification. Prior to joining the Nuggets, he served in private practice at Back in Motion Physical Therapy in Kingsford, MI.

Short graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Dayton (UD) after serving with the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2013-14 season. While at UD, he conducted research for multiple NBA organizations, presented research nationally, and was awarded the UD DPT Student Achievement Award. From 2005-10, he earned a dual Bachelor of Science in Biology and Exercise Science from Michigan Tech, while quarterbacking the Huskies football team. Short also received a Minor in Psychology and Certificate in Coaching, and became a certified strength and conditioning specialist during his tenure at Michigan Tech. He was inducted into the Michigan Tech College of Sciences and Arts Academy in 2018. 

Short is board certified in both Sports and Orthopaedic Physical Therapy through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. He was named the American Physical Therapy Association’s Outstanding Physical Therapist Fellow Award in 2020 and is an Accredited High Performance Manager (ESSA).

He resides in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with his wife Gretchen, their children Lillian and Noah, and cat Winston.

Updated June 2023