Mike Rhoades (VCU) - Potential under the radar candidate

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In just his second season in 2018-19, Rhoades led the Rams back to the NCAA Tournament, as well as their first Atlantic 10 Conference outright regular season championship. VCU’s 25 total wins, including 16 conference victories, tied program regular-season marks. For his efforts, he was named Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year and Richmond Times-Dispatch State Coach of the Year, and was a finalist for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award. Rhoades led the Rams back to the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21 following a 19-7 campaign in which the Black and Gold reached the A-10 Championship Game. In four seasons, eight Rams have been named to All-Atlantic 10 Conference Teams, including 2021 A-10 Player of the Year Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland, as well as first team selections Marcus Evans and Justin Tillman.

Rhoades' debut campaign as VCU head coach in 2017-18 produced 18 wins and the program's 18th consecutive winning season. Under his tutelage, Tillman blossomed into a First Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference performer. Tillman also captured All-District honors, as well as the Richmond Times-Dispatch's State College Player of the Year award.

Prior to returning to Richmond, Rhoades engineered a stunning turnaround at Rice. As head coach of the Owls from 2014-17, Rhoades led Rice to its first 20-win campaign since 2003-04 and the program’s first postseason appearance since 2011-12.

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