with Smart came in Detroit, at the Final Four. Just days later, Rhoades accepted an offer to join Smart’s staff.
“I’ve had some opportunities the last few years, heck, the last 10 years, and I bit on this one,” Rhoades said. “I think it was time. At this point in my career, it was time to follow through in my career with something I wanted to do.”
Much like the players had to transition from one coaching staff to another, Rhoades was adjusting from Division III to Division I. But each party found their way quickly.
“Kids want to be coached,” Rhoades said. “People say things about the kids of today, I don’t buy any of it. These guys at VCU, they want to win. You can tell the program is bigger than any individual. They want to be successful.”
Rhoades graduated from Lebanon Valley in 1995 with a degree in history and promptly went to work on his basketball career.
In May of 1996, Rhoades interviewed for and accepted a position under Hal Nunnally at Division III Randolph-Macon in Ashland, Va.
Rhoades spent three successful years under Nunnally, but in March of 1999, the longtime coach had to retire due to a myriad of health problems. Nunnally went to the school’s president and recommended Rhoades, who would agree to take over the storied Yellow Jackets’ program before his 26th birthday.
“That was the question, is he ready,” Rhoades said of his hire. “But when I was 20 years old as a junior in college, I was sitting in the office with Coach (Pat) Flannery watching tape. In the summer, my job was basketball camps. I’ve never had a real job to this day. So, I thought I was ready. I knew what I needed to do.”
In 10 seasons, the Yellow Jackets were 197-76 and made four NCAA Tournament appearances. During the 2002-03 season, Randolph-Macon grabbed the nation’s No. 1 ranking for several weeks, captured the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tourna- ment and reached the NCAA Sweet 16. Rhoades was named ODAC Coach of the Year, his third such honor, as well as NABC South District Coach of the Year and State Coach of the Year by the Richmond-Times Dispatch.
How did a 26-year old guy with just three seasons of coaching experience under his belt achieve so much? With players that were willing to outwork everybody else.
“Of course you always have to see the talent,” Rhoades said. “But I also want that kid that has an edge, that’s very competi- tive, hates to lose, but knows how to handle it. I just think, if kids aren’t afraid to compete and have that edge about being successful, they’ll find a way. I love tough kids.”
PERSONAL
Birthdate: September 21, 1972 Hometown: Mahanoy City, Pa.
Family: Jodie (Wife), Logan (7), Porter (5) and Chase (3) EDUCATION Undergraduate:
Lebanon Valley College, 1995 Master’s:
VCU, 2002 (Sport Leadership) PLAYING EXPERIENCE College:
Lebanon Valley College, 1991-94
Professional: France, 1995
COACHING EXPERIENCE 1996-1999:
Randolph Macon College Assistant Coach
1999-2009:
Randolph Macon College Head Coach
2009-present: VCU
Assistant Coach/Associate Head Coach VCU MEN’S BASKETBALL 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172