RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Mike Rhoades, head coach for the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Men’s Basketball team, is reportedly leaving the Rams program for the head coaching role at Penn State.
According to ESPN, Penn State was awaiting board approval of the contract Wednesday morning. ESPN sources claimed Rhoades had not yet revealed his intentions to VCU officials at the time.
Since then, Rhoades has released a statement on social media:
Thank you VCU! My family and I want to thank you for 11 awesome years. It was a dream come true to coach with so many special, talented and passionate players and coaches. My players and coaches will always be part of my family…what no matter! Thank you to all the students and the Peppas for showing up and being loud. Study hard, laugh a lot, follow your dreams and make as many friends as you can. It’s all about your journey. Enjoy it!
Coach Mike Rhoades
VCU Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin also a released a statement on the men’s basketball program:
We would like to thank Mike Rhoades for his dedication to the VCU Men’s Basketball program and our student-athletes throughout his 11 years and especially the past six years as our head coach. His efforts helped continue the great traditions of VCU Basketball as a championship program that is focused on our student-athletes while achieving national prominence. We wish Coach Rhoades, Jodie and their family all the best at their new home. We are excited for the future of VCU basketball and our focus remains 100 percent on supporting our student-athletes to reach our collective goals.
Ed McLaughlin, VCU Vice President and Director of Athletics
Rhoades was hired as the VCU men’s head basketball coach in 2017. Two years later, he was named Coach of the Year by the Atlantic 10 Conference after leading the Rams to a conference regular season title. In 2021, Rhoades signed a two-year extension of his contract with VCU.
This year, Rhoades led his team to win the A-10 Championship against the Dayton Flyers and earned an automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. VCU was eliminated by the Saint Mary’s Gaels in the tournament’s first round.
