CUMBERLAND - Bishop Walsh Principal Sam Torres announced Monday that Dr. Jeff Rhodes is the new head boys basketball coach at the school, succeeding Gene Paul.
Rhodes is a 1979 graduate of Valley High School where he played basketball under legendary coach John Meyers. The 1979 squad went 27-0 and won the state's Class C title. Rhodes went on to play basketball for two years at Western Maryland College and later graduated from Frostburg State in 1983. He graduated from the University of Maryland Dental School in 1987 and then became a member of the United States Navy Dental Corps. He has practiced dentistry locally since 1991.
Rhodes says he will draw inspiration from Coach Meyers, as he thinks another area coach already has.
"He (Meyers) was a great influence on me. I played at Valley at the same time (Mountain Ridge boys head coach) Dave Hobel did, and I'm sure Coach Meyers' influence can be seen in his style. He was a coach who really stressed the fundamentals of defense, rebounding, shooting, free throws and fast breaks. We won't run anything complicated, just return to the fundamentals that you can work on everyday."
Rhodes saw some very positive things from last year's Spartans who had the school's best Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament showing in years.
"There was a pretty good effort being put forth during the ACITs, and that means a good foundation to work with. We have a lot of kids returning, and should have excellent guard play. I believe we need to get a little tougher physically, and rebound better to be able to continue to improve against teams in the ACIT."
He also sees the return of more area teams to the schedule as a positive. The Spartans are scheduled to join the Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference and will play all teams in the conference this season except for Hampshire.
"Competing in the AMAC will be a good step for us, and I think City League games are always critical. It should be exciting for Cumberland this season, because I feel we'll have three pretty good teams."
"My main goal," said Rhodes, "is to strengthen our junior varsity program, and to make sure that our youth league teams remain competitive."
He cited the need for a strong feeder program to sustain a successful program as reason for making it such a strong priority.
Rhodes was a local referee for several years, officiating both at the high school and college level. He has coached freshman teams at both Beall and Bishop Walsh, and he has coached in several youth leagues.
"I officiated for over 10 years in the area and have done some work on the West Coast as well. It helped keep my hand in a sport that I love, but now that I have kids who will be involved, I wanted to step over to the coaching side."
Rhodes is married and lives in Cumberland. He and his wife Karrey have three sons: Kyle is entering the 10th grade, Liam is entering the 8th grade, and Sean is entering the 4th grade at Bishop Walsh.
"I have to thank my wife and kids for allowing me this opportunity," said Rhodes. "Being a head coach will take even more of my time away from them, but they are enthusiastic sports fans so I think they'll enjoy it as well.
"I would also like to thank Coach Gene Paul for giving me the opportunity to coach at the freshman level last season. Principal Torres and (athletic director) Jim Zamagias, as well as the entire BW community, all have my appreciation."
Torres stated, "Jeff brings enthusiasm and dedication to Bishop Walsh. He and his family are heavily involved in all aspects of our school's academic and sports life and we look forward to his leadership of our basketball program."
Contact Chris Appel at cappel@times-news.com.
High School Boys
Related Photos
Rhodes new BW boys basketball coach
Former basketball official, freshman coach for Spartans steps up to varsity
- High School Boys
-
-
Late-innings surge sends Allegany over Keyser, 12-2
Allegany scored all 12 of its runs during the final three innings of its 12-2 win over Keyser Thursday evening in in Appalachian Mountain Athletic Conference action played at John Kruk Field in Keyser.
-
Benedictine ends Gonzaga’s streak
Defense comes first at Benedictine, and it might just carry the Cadets to their first ACIT championship.
-
DeMatha, Benedictine in title game
In a tough defensive battle between two patient and well-disciplined teams, the DeMatha Stags made the clutch foul shots down the stretch to defeat tournament newcomer The John Carroll School of Bel Air, 38-32, and advance to the championship game of the 51st annual Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament on Friday night at Frostburg State University’s Bobcat Arena.
-
McNamara sets school win record
Callon Dailey scored 25 points and Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Player of the Year Marcus Thornton scored 19 to help Forestville’s Bishop McNamara Mustangs to a 65-56 victory over Baltimore’s St. Frances Panthers in the second consolation semifinal of the 51st Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament Friday night at Frostburg State University.
-
Jones’ shot ends BW’s frustration
A group of 300 Spartans are immortalized for taking a stand against overwhelming odds.
Friday at Frostburg State University a group of 13 Spartans made some of their own history by making a stand against 15 years of Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament frustration, and when Pat Jones’ floater went threw the net with six seconds left, it ended a Bishop Walsh streak that has lasted longer than most of it’s players have known the game of basketball as the Spartans beat St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.), 61-60, in a drama-filled contest that kicked off Day Two of ACIT action. -
Keyser almost chops down Oak Hill
Kalif Wright had 33 points and 17 rebounds as defending champion Oak Hill beat Keyser 66-65 in the Class AA semifinals Friday night.
-
DeMatha wears down BW
Bishop Walsh couldn’t sustain its initial level of energy, and DeMatha shot just well enough on the outside to spread the Spartans thin on defense during a 69-52 Stags win in the opening contest of the 51st Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament Thursday at Frostburg State University.
-
Gonzaga streaks on, 78-63
The sky may be the limit for Gonzaga sophomore Nate Britt.
-
Keyser ousts Magnolia in Class AA quarterfinals
Dustin Fertig scored six of his 12 points in the final 4 minutes to help preserve Keyser’s 59-54 win over Magnolia in the Class AA quarterfinals Thursday night.
-
John Carroll pulls away, wins 66-54
Tournament newcomer The John Carroll School of Bel Air used some stingy zone defense and a big fourth period outburst to defeat St. Benedictine Prep of Newark, N.J., 66-54, Thursday night for the right to face 19-time champion DeMatha in the championship semifinals of the 51st annual Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament at Frostburg State’s Bobcat Arena.
- More High School Boys Headlines
-
Late-innings surge sends Allegany over Keyser, 12-2
