Sports
Rhodes takes athletic reins at Southwest
- Details
- Category: Sports
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20 Sep 2012
- Written by Tri-State Defender Newsroom
The post-Verties Sails Jr.-era is underway at Southwest Tennessee Community College, with former Saluqis player Benjamin Rhodes beginning his first season as Southwest's athletic director and head men's basketball coach.
The legendary sales retired June 30, ending an accolade-laden, 33-year coaching career at the college. For 19 years, Rhodes was an assistant coach to Sails. During that time, the Saluqis compiled a 365-165 record, won nine West Division titles, eight TCCAA state championships, seven region championships, and advanced to the national tournament seven times, including a runner-up finish in 1998.
Rhodes played at Shelby State Community College (now Southwest) from 1981-83, and led the Saluqis to a 53-10 record, two West Division championships, and the Region championship in 1983, when he was named to the all-tournament team.
After Shelby State, Rhodes played at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, where he was a two-time all-district and all-conference performer. As a junior, he averaged 19 points per game, was a three-time Player of the Month, and was named Newcomer of the Year. Rhodes averaged 20.3 points as a senior, and finished his career as UAH's 20th all-time leading scorer.
Rhodes received a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Alabama-Huntsville in 1985. He is married to the former Brenda Carson and they have three children.
