Rhodes Takes Coaching Job At Logansport
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Standing at a podium almost a year ago, tears in his eyes and family at his side, Al Rhodes walked away from the basketball empire he built at Warsaw Community High School.
He said he wanted to make it clear, however, he wasn't done with basketball, and as it turns out, he's not done coaching at the high school level in Indiana.
After just one year of retirement from coaching, Rhodes has accepted the head coaching position at Logansport High School.
In 22 years at Warsaw, Rhodes compiled a stellar 405-133 record, taking five teams to the Final Four and winning the 1984 state championship. Along the way he won 14 sectionals, seven regionals, 10 Northern Lakes Conference titles, four South Bend Bend Holiday Tournaments, six Warsaw Holiday Tournaments, one Hall of Fame Classic and two NLC Holiday Tournament championships.
In those 22 years, Rhodes, 50, was named Coach of the Year by various organizations 17 times, as well as coaching the U.S team in the 1988 McDonalds Capital Classic and the Indiana All-Stars in 1995.
"The time here in Warsaw was tremendous," Rhodes said. "I certainly enjoyed the community's interest in basketball and the overall sports program. I'm very sad about leaving my fellow math teachers I've been with for a lot of years, as I was the coaches a year ago. You just never know what's ahead of you in life."
"Logansport is without a doubt getting one of the top coaches in the state of Indiana," Warsaw Athletic Director Dave Fulkerson said. "Al has made a committment to Logansport, and they in turn to him. The first couple years they just need to use some patience, Al knows how to build a winning program."
Logansport, which released coach Ray "Skeeter" Heath, was just 6-15 a year ago, but does have number of varsity players returning.
Since the start of class basketball in 1997, the Berries have won just two sectional games, and haven't won a sectional championship in seven years, though only five schools in the state have won more sectional crowns. Only four schools in the state have won more regional titles, though it's been nearly 30 years since Logansport last won a regional championship.
"I didn't know what was going to come next," Rhodes said. "When Logansport talked with me I just decided it was something I wanted to do. It came out of the blue, like a lightning bolt. They were very interested in me becoming their coach, and I guess you could say they were very successful in talking me into it. I enjoy basketball, and I see this as a tremendous challenge and something I'm looking forward to."
Rhodes said Logansport first contacted him about three weeks ago.
Logansport, a school with an enrollment just over 1,200, plays in the North Central Conference with Anderson, Kokomo, Lafayette Jeff, Marion, Muncie Central, New Castle and Richmond.
The NCC is the only conference in the state in which all the teams have won a basketball state championship, led by Muncie Central's state record eight and Marion's seven.
"As you look into that conference, it's always been a great basketball conference," Rhodes said. "I'm looking forward to coaching against some great programs and some great coaches." [[In-content Ad]]
Standing at a podium almost a year ago, tears in his eyes and family at his side, Al Rhodes walked away from the basketball empire he built at Warsaw Community High School.
He said he wanted to make it clear, however, he wasn't done with basketball, and as it turns out, he's not done coaching at the high school level in Indiana.
After just one year of retirement from coaching, Rhodes has accepted the head coaching position at Logansport High School.
In 22 years at Warsaw, Rhodes compiled a stellar 405-133 record, taking five teams to the Final Four and winning the 1984 state championship. Along the way he won 14 sectionals, seven regionals, 10 Northern Lakes Conference titles, four South Bend Bend Holiday Tournaments, six Warsaw Holiday Tournaments, one Hall of Fame Classic and two NLC Holiday Tournament championships.
In those 22 years, Rhodes, 50, was named Coach of the Year by various organizations 17 times, as well as coaching the U.S team in the 1988 McDonalds Capital Classic and the Indiana All-Stars in 1995.
"The time here in Warsaw was tremendous," Rhodes said. "I certainly enjoyed the community's interest in basketball and the overall sports program. I'm very sad about leaving my fellow math teachers I've been with for a lot of years, as I was the coaches a year ago. You just never know what's ahead of you in life."
"Logansport is without a doubt getting one of the top coaches in the state of Indiana," Warsaw Athletic Director Dave Fulkerson said. "Al has made a committment to Logansport, and they in turn to him. The first couple years they just need to use some patience, Al knows how to build a winning program."
Logansport, which released coach Ray "Skeeter" Heath, was just 6-15 a year ago, but does have number of varsity players returning.
Since the start of class basketball in 1997, the Berries have won just two sectional games, and haven't won a sectional championship in seven years, though only five schools in the state have won more sectional crowns. Only four schools in the state have won more regional titles, though it's been nearly 30 years since Logansport last won a regional championship.
"I didn't know what was going to come next," Rhodes said. "When Logansport talked with me I just decided it was something I wanted to do. It came out of the blue, like a lightning bolt. They were very interested in me becoming their coach, and I guess you could say they were very successful in talking me into it. I enjoy basketball, and I see this as a tremendous challenge and something I'm looking forward to."
Rhodes said Logansport first contacted him about three weeks ago.
Logansport, a school with an enrollment just over 1,200, plays in the North Central Conference with Anderson, Kokomo, Lafayette Jeff, Marion, Muncie Central, New Castle and Richmond.
The NCC is the only conference in the state in which all the teams have won a basketball state championship, led by Muncie Central's state record eight and Marion's seven.
"As you look into that conference, it's always been a great basketball conference," Rhodes said. "I'm looking forward to coaching against some great programs and some great coaches." [[In-content Ad]]