Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The man who kept things virtually the same for 20-plus years, Al Rhodes certainly changed the face of Warsaw Community High School's boys basketball program earlier today.
After today, Rhodes will no longer be the coach of the Tigers. His resignation, expected to be tendered today during a 3:30 p.m. press conference, ends a 22-year head-coaching career at WCHS.
"I've worked here 26 years and worked as hard as I possibly can. I've just decided to go another direction," Rhodes said today.
He will remain a math teacher at WCHS and plans to work with Five Star Basketball Camps, both in Fort Wayne and nationally as well as founding the Al Rhodes Basketball School in Fort Wayne.
Rhodes also will work in player development with a foundation started in the Bahamas by former Tiger and current Los Angeles Laker Rick Fox.
Rhodes, a 1970 graduate of Penn High School in Mishawaka, worked as an assistant coach at WCHS from 1976-1980. Replacing Jim Miller, Rhodes took the Tigers to the Final Four in 1981, his first season as head coach.
In his tenure with the Tigers, Rhodes compiled a 405-133 record, including 14 sectional titles, seven regional crowns, four semistate titles and the 1984 state championship.
In his final season calling the shots for Warsaw, the Tigers won a school-record 19 regular season games en route to a 21-3 record, falling to DeKalb in the sectional championship.
While at Warsaw, the veteran coach produced 49 team championships, two Mr. Basketballs, six Indiana All-Stars and three high school All-Americans.
As for the future of Warsaw's boys basketball program, both Rhodes and athletic director Dave Fulkerson highly recommend junior varsity coach Doug Ogle to replace Rhodes.
"The loyalty he (Ogle) has demonstrated over the years here and the quality of his performance demonstrates he is the right person for the job," Rhodes said.
The decision on Rhodes's replacement rests with the school board.
Rhodes' coaching contract expires June 30.
