Head Coach Mike Rhoades
Lebanon Valley College (1995)
Record in first eight seasons: 157-65 (.704)
E-mail Coach Rhoades
(804) 752-4733
Mike Rhoades is in his ninth season as the head men’s basketball coach at Randolph-Macon College in 2007-08. His overall career record is 157-65 (.707).
Under Rhoades' direction, the 2005-06 R-MC squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in his tenure on the Yellow Jacket bench. R-MC finished second in the ODAC with a 15-3 record and advanced to the league championship game for the third time in four years
In 2004-2005 under Rhoades, Randolph-Macon won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) regular season championship for the fourth straight season and advanced to the conference tournament championship game.
The 2003-2004 Yellow Jackets were 23-5 overall, finished first in the ODAC regular season standings, were ranked as high as #2 in the nation during the season and finished #17, as well as #2 in the NCAA Division III South Region. Randolph-Macon also advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament for the third straight year. A milestone came on Wednesday, February 4, 2004, as Rhoades earned his 100th career victory in a 98-84 win at Eastern Mennonite.
In 2002-2003, the Randolph-Macon squad was ranked #1 in the nation for several weeks at the end of the season, won the ODAC tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament “Sweet Sixteen.” Based on the team’s success during the season, Randolph-Macon had the opportunity to host the NCAA “Sweet Sixteen” regional tournament in March.
Rhoades received many honors at the end of the 2002-2003 campaign. He was named the ODAC Coach of the Year for the third straight season, and was also selected as the National Association of Basketball Coaches South District Coach of the Year and Virginia Sports Information Directors state Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year. In addition, he was named the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper’s state Coach of the Year.
In 2001-2002, Rhoades led the Yellow Jackets to a number one national ranking for two straight weeks, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference regular season championship, and the NCAA Division III tournament “Sweet Sixteen.” He was named the ODAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season, and was also the National Association of Basketball Coaches South District Coach of the Year and the Virginia Sports Information Directors state Coach of the Year.
From 1996 to 1999 Rhoades served as an assistant coach at Randolph-Macon, and took over the reigns of the program from the legendary Hal Nunnally following the 1998-99 season. During his time as an assistant with the Yellow Jackets, Rhoades helped the team to a three-year overall record of 57-25 (.695) and a conference record of 40-14 (.741). Randolph-Macon earned a share of the ODAC regular-season championship in 1997-98, and made two straight appearances in the ODAC Tournament championship game and the NCAA Division III tournament, in 1998 and 1999.
A native of Pennsylvania, Rhoades is a 1995 graduate of Lebanon Valley College, where he was a standout player on the basketball court. During his time as a Dutchman, he won just about every award and accolade possible as a player. Rhoades helped his team to league titles, conference championships, and the NCAA Division III title in 1994. Individually, he was named a four-time conference all-star, two-time Middle Atlantic Region Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, MVP of the 1994 National Championship, first-team All-American, and National Player of the Year.
At the time of his graduation, Rhoades was Lebanon Valley’s all-time leading scorer (2,050 career points), and is still the school’s career assists leader (668). He is also the record-holder for three-point field goals made in a career (236), season (84), and game (7). Rhoades started in every single game (116) that the Dutchmen played during his tenure, leading his team to a four-year record of 86-30. His jersey number, #5, was retired at the end of his senior year. Rhoades recieved the highest athletic honor at LVC, by being inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.
Because of his background both as a player and as a coach, Rhoades has a deep understanding of the great tradition and history of Randolph-Macon basketball.
“Randolph-Macon College basketball has had a tremendous tradition,” he says. “We are known throughout the country for the type of team we put on the court. I take great pride in continuing the tradition as well as striving to push forward.”
Hard work and discipline have always been trademarks of Randolph-Macon basketball, and that will be no different in 2005-06. Rhoades demands respect from his players, and excellence both on and off the court if they want to be a successful part of the Yellow Jacket program.
“We will keep demanding a first-class program with gentlemen both on and off the court. Our goals are to keep playing the best teams possible and to recruit young men who will put the program before themselves. Our work ethic will make our college community and former players proud of what they are a part of,” Rhoades states.
Rhoades is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Division III South Region ranking committe. He has been honored with induction into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (Central Region), and is a recent inductee into the Lebanon Valley College Athletic Hall of Fame. Rhoades lives in Ashland with his wife Jodie, their son Logan Patrick and daughter Porter Jane.
J.D. Byers
Assistant Coach
Email Coach Byers
(804) 752-7397
Jon-David Byers joined the Yellow Jacket Men's Basketball staff in June of 2007.
Byers comes to R-MC from Lebanon Valley College where he followed a standout playing career for the Flying Dutchmen with a one-year stint as an assistant coach.
During his one year on the sidelines at LVC, Byers was involved with all phases of the Flying Dutchmen program including spearheading all recruiting efforts. In addition, Byers also assisted with game preparation, film breakdown and scouting while preparing individual player work outs and directing the team’s strength and condition program.
“We are excited to have J.D. join our program,” said Rhoades who graduated from LVC in 1995. “I believe he is a great fit in helping strive to reach our goals. His playing and coaching career speak volumes about his desire to succeed. I think he will do a great job and help our program immensely.”
One of the most decorated athletes in LVC basketball history, Byers racked up 1,898 points for his career, good for fifth on the school’s all-time list and 152 points behind Rhoades who is the school’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,050 career points.
"I am extremely excited to be a part of the Randolph-Macon Men's Basketball program,” said Byers. “I look forward to working with Coach Rhoades and this talented group of student-athletes as we strive to continue building on the great tradition of R-MC men's basketball"
During his brilliant senior season in 2004-05, he averaged 22.7 points per game and was a NABC first team All-American while helping lead the Dutchmen to a berth in the Commonwealth Conference championship game and the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament. Byer was also the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Off the court, he was named as the ESPN The Magazine College Division Men’s Basketball Academic All-American of the Year and was the male recipient of the Jostens Trophy Award.
In May of 2005, Byers graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lebanon Valley with a degree in Accounting & Business Administration and fashioned a final grade-point-average of 3.8.
Upon his graduation from LVC, Byers began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson University during the 2005-06 season. As the Devils’ primary assistant, Byers was the team’s recruiting coordinator, film exchange coordinator, and scouting coordinator.
Jack Whitcomb
Volunteer Assistant Coach
Jack Whitcomb is in his fourth year as a volunteer assistant coach with the Yellow Jackets in 2007-08. A 1952 Randolph-Macon graduate, he is member of the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Whitcomb was team captain in 1952 and was named both first-team all-Little Six Conference and second-team all-Mason Dixon Conference. He finished his career with 1,733 points, which ranks fourth on the program’s career list, and holds the record for free throws made in a game (21, vs. Lynchburg in 1949-50).