Paul Rhoads
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Paul Rhoads | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Title | Defensive coordinator Defensive backs coach |
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| College | Auburn | |
| Sport | Football | |
| Conference | SEC | |
| Born | February 2, 1967 | |
| Place of birth | Ankeny, IA | |
| Career highlights | ||
| Playing career | ||
| 1985-1988 | Missouri Western | |
| Position | Defensive back | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
| 1989-1990 1991 1992-1994 1995-1999 2000-2007 2008-present |
Utah State (Grad Asst.) Ohio State (Grad Asst.) Pacific (Defensive backs) Iowa State (LB/Secondary) Pittsburgh (DC) Auburn (DC) |
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Paul Rhoads (born February 2, 1967 in Ankeny, Iowa) is an American college football coach. Rhoads is currently the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Auburn University football team.
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[edit] Playing career
Rhoads was a prep special mention all-state free safety and valedictorian of his high school class before lettering for three-years at Missouri Western State University from 1986-1988, where he played defensive back. He graduated in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in economics and was the recipient of the Chris Faros Scholarship, honoring the program's top senior student-athlete. Rhoads earned a master's degree from Utah State University in 1991.
[edit] Coaching career
Rhoads began his coaching career under Chuck Shelton as a graduate assistant at Utah State working with the secondary. After serving in the same capacity under John Cooper at Ohio State, Rhoads received his first full time position as a defensive backs coach at University of the Pacific in 1992. The following season, the Pacific Tigers ranked 20th nationally in pass defense, allowing just 152 yards passing per game. In 1995, incoming head coach Dan McCarney hired Rhoads to join him at Iowa State, where he served as linebackers and secondary coach for 5 seasons. While with the Cyclones, Rhoads also assisted with the special teams.
[edit] Pittsburgh Panthers
In 2000, Rhoads was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Panthers by Walt Harris. In his first season, Rhoads was credited with improving the team's defense to their best performance since 1980. In 2001, his defensive unit ranked among the nation's top 30 in five different categories at season's end. Additionally, Pitt finished with 38 quarterback sacks. In 2002, the Panthers defense ranked among the nation's top 25 in an impressive seven different categories. In 2004, Pitt ranked ninth nationally with 17 interceptions and Rhoads was kept on staff by new head coach Dave Wannstedt. That decision proved wise as by then end of the 2005 season, Pitt was ranked second nationally in pass defense (yielding just 152.82 yards per game) and sixth in pass efficiency defense with a 99.36 rating. In 2006, Sporting News named Rhoads the Big East's best defensive coordinator. In 2007, Rhoads' defense was among the nation's leaders in various categories, finishing fifth nationally in total defense (allowing just 297.7 yards per games) and third nationally in pass defense (allowing just 167.3 yards per game). While the team finished 5–7, they ended on a high note by holding then-#2 ranked rival West Virginia to a season-low nine points in a 13-9 victory in the Backyard Brawl, limiting the Mountaineers high-powered offense to 183 yards (292 yards below their average).
[edit] Auburn Tigers
In 2002, coach Tommy Tuberville offered Rhoads a job to fill a vacant spot for defensive coordinator at Auburn.[1] Having completed only his second season at Pitt, Rhoads passed on the job with Tuberville eventually hiring Gene Chizik. However, when Will Muschamp resigned at the conclusion of the 2007 season, coach Tuberville again offered the job with Rhoads accepting to head the 2008 Tigers defense on January 17, 2008.[1][2] As head of Auburn's defense, Rhoads will also coach defensive backs, as did the Tigers' last four defensive coordinators.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads leaves for Auburn. Sporting News (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
- ^ Auburn Names Paul Rhoads Defensive Coordinator. Auburn Tigers (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
- ^ Rhoads ready to blend his schemes into Tigers' defense. The Birmingham News (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Will Muschamp |
Auburn University Defensive Coordinator 2008–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
