Rhoades Wastes No Time Filling PSU Hoops Roster
(Editor’s note: This is the second part of a two-part interview with new Penn State men’s basketball head coach Mike Rhoades)
UNIVERSITY PARK — When Pennsylvania native Mike Rhoades had the opportunity to coach at Penn State, he jumped at the chance.
Since his arrival, he hasn’t regretted that decision one bit. In fact, he said the transition has gone rather smoothly.
“It’s been great and it’s been a lot of fun. Now, it’s been absolutely crazy. It’s been non-stop, but it’s been so much fun,” Rhoades said. “Reconnecting with a lot of people that I haven’t seen in a long time (and) meeting so many new people. There’s a reason they call it Happy Valley around here. People love to work at Penn State and people love to be in this community. It’s been really refreshing to me.”
Rhoades came to Penn State via Virginia Commonwealth University, where he racked up a 102-53 record, good for a winning percentage of .658. His squads also made a pair of NCAA tournament appearances.
At Penn State, Rhoades faces a challenge. When he arrived at University Park, the cupboard was pretty bare. Due to graduations and the transfer portal, the Nittany Lion roster was in shambles. Immediately, Rhoades and his staff went to work.
“We’re working really hard to put this roster together. We’re starting from scratch, but it’s been a lot of fun. The neat thing about it is we know where we want to go. To put everything in place to get there has been a special thing,” Rhoades said.
Rhoades and his staff have made use of the transfer portal as they try to re-build the Nittany Lions.
“It is what it is,” Rhoades said. “You just keep moving forward. Recruiting is always ups and downs. One day, you have a lead and you feel good about it. The next day, it’s not there. You’ll have a kid on campus and you don’t know how it’s going. The next day, he commits to you,” Rhoades said.
Rhoades has been a head coach for more than a decade. He knows how the game is played.
“I always say, ‘In recruiting, expect the unexpected.’ In recruiting, there’s always things I’m just going to lean on and trust on,” Rhoades said.
Filling that roster has been on his mind 24/7.
“Every day, there has been so much to do. But that’s what happens in your first 100 days. You set the tone of your program. Recruiting, building your staff. You put your head down every day and push through. That’s the key,” Rhoades said.
Thus far, Rhoades has added seven players from the NCAA transfer portal. While there is still a long way to go, he likes the roster he’s built to date.
Rhoades has been out and about. He’s made appearances at nearly every Penn State spring sports event. He likes getting immersed not only in the campus, but the community.
“I have a cool platform as a coach. The first thing you need to do is give people your time and be present. Sometimes, just a handshake, a hug or a picture will go a long way,” Rhoades said.
In the movie “Field of Dreams,” the main character, Ray, heard a voice that said, ‘if you build it, he will come.’ Well, Rhoades believes that if you win, people will come.
“Everywhere I’ve been, when we were winning, more people showed up. More people talked about it. You get people to jump on the wagon and stay on the wagon for good,” Rhoades said.
According to Rhoades, Penn State basketball fans are going to see a completely different style of play.
“The exciting style of play that we have will be different than a lot of teams in our league,” Rhoades said. “I think that will create a cool buzz and people will really enjoy it.”
Rhoades’ goal is simple: Put a winner on the court, fill the Bryce Jordan Center and get back to the NCAA tournament.
“You gotta go and win, but doing it the right way is No. 1. We want to make people feel proud of what we are doing,” Rhoades said. “Without a doubt, you’ve got to go and win.”