It looks like Penn State has found its new basketball coach.
Mike Rhoades, who has been VCU’s boss for the past six seasons, is reportedly headed to Happy Valley.
Dick “Hoops” Weiss, a Hall of Fame sportswriter, reported Tuesday night that Rhoades to Penn State was “done.”
Rhoades is 129-61 in six seasons at VCU with three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Here’s how the people of Twitter reacted to the reported hiring.
Will be interesting to see the depleted roster come together. The two 4-star VCU recruits from 2022 would be a nice start. https://t.co/39UuSBRccD
— Colby Welshans (@CJ_Dubya) March 29, 2023
— Dani (@TheDanimatrix) March 29, 2023
Welcome to State College Mike! https://t.co/mZjd1Gl7pg
— Ben Wasserman (@BenWasserman4) March 29, 2023
💥 A New Chapter Begins for VCU. Here is a look at the last 5 coaches for the Rams.
Mike Rhoades: 2017-23
Record: 129-61Will Wade: 2015-17
Record:51-20Shaka Smart: 2009-15
Record: 163-56Anthony Grant: 2006-09
Record: 76-25Jeff Capel III: 2002-06
Record: 79-41— A10_Vault (@A10Vault) March 29, 2023
None of Mike Rhoades teams at VCU have been ranked in the top-100 offensive efficiency in KenPom. However, they have not had a losing season under him. That’s how good they have been defensively. I wonder how well how that style would translate to the Big Ten if he was hired
— Jaret Gold (@JaretGold) March 28, 2023
Mike Rhoades going from a guy that says Richmond is his home and everyone is family to a guy that is burning it all down, most disliked man in RVA after this. Hoping we never see him in our great city again except for when PSU visits to play
— VCU-Alum (@HAVOC_VCU) March 29, 2023
Describe your feelings of Mike Rhoades *potentially* coming to Penn State in five words or fewer. Let me hear it.
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) March 29, 2023
Great coach, can recruit
— 🤷🏼♂️ (@NortonRVA) March 29, 2023
His teams can't score.
— Jay (@JayJayallday31) March 29, 2023
Glass is half something
— mueller (@muellerindy) March 29, 2023
Rhoades getting north of $3 million would put him a bit past Shrewsberry and even further past Chambers. Mentioned recently Chambers made just over $2 million in recent filing. In talking with people, noteworthy that Chambers’ most recent number likely included severance pay. pic.twitter.com/so7m7gqNbB
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) March 29, 2023
Historically Penn State hasn't released any contract for the position but if Rhoades does make $3 million+ it will almost certainly put him among Penn State's top paid employees which will make that number to the dollar public during each annual report.
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) March 29, 2023
Will be interesting to see if Rhoades is in fact the guy, if he brings Ace Baldwin with him. A-10 Player of The Year and a guard at that. Penn State needs whoever it can get, but could do worse than that resume.
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) March 29, 2023
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.VCU had 145th ranked adjusted offense, 15th ranked adjusted defense and 142nd ranked fastest tempo. So a defensive focused squad that runs a little higher than average tempo was their identity this year. PSU was snail’s tempo, highly efficient offense and decent defense.
— Andy Rupert (@WeAreToTheTop) March 29, 2023
Should never chase happiness.
— RMNB 08 / HTTR/ VCU (@Rippermagoosya1) March 29, 2023
Good. Hit the portal.
— Brock Purdy Hater (@SlotShawty) March 29, 2023
Made all those tourneys at VCU but never won a tourney game. Fun style for sure but can he get that same style going at PSU? Can he win a tourney game finally?
— WIDawgs 🏆 🏆 (@DawgsCheese) March 29, 2023
If you’re judging coaches strictly on making a tournament run, you’re that much more likely to need a new coach in a few years.
— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) March 29, 2023
Granted, most coaches who are in a position to make a tournament run are going to be good at their jobs. You still have to view the full resume though.
— Anchor of Gold dot com (@anchorofgold) March 29, 2023
But there are excellent coaches who do fantastic jobs in programs that are not advantaged and might never win a game. Some of the best coaches might be 0-whatever, and some who are just ok have made multiple Sweet 16s.
— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) March 29, 2023
It doesn’t matter
— Nate (@Vedder320) March 29, 2023
Good hire Let’s go!
— coachjeffpsu22 (@jeffpsu22) March 29, 2023
Lots of work to do
— PSUFAN10 (@4ever_PennState) March 29, 2023
pain https://t.co/bd7JHCpCAi pic.twitter.com/0uP1TgyMOy
— Nathan Heintschel (@NathanIsRed) March 29, 2023
Mike Rhoades and all zero of his NCAA tournament wins? Seems like a great guy and decent coach but this feels like a reach. https://t.co/rIXvIoQp4W
— Reilly Moore (@reillymoore) March 29, 2023
mike rhoades is gonna have him doing this on a weekly basis in the bryce jordan center next season https://t.co/0v0KPe3qfG
— Bill DiFilippo (@billdifilippo) March 29, 2023
sources in happy valley say mike rhoades was recently seen trying zen wings and taking one bite and going "i wish i got wings over," will continue monitoring the situation
— Bill DiFilippo (@billdifilippo) March 28, 2023
the most important thing about penn state potentially hiring mike rhoades is he has almost certainly been to the pine barn inn in danville, pennsylvania
— Bill DiFilippo (@billdifilippo) March 28, 2023
I’ll talk myself into this. I’m ready for Penn State to really care about basketball. https://t.co/W3i6bmL1Ds
— Jeff Sattora (@jeffsattora) March 29, 2023
