Basketball FOLLOW ALONG: Mike Rhoades introductory press conference
- Thread starter Dylan Callaghan-Croley
- Start date
"I want to thank the fans, your pride and passion for Penn State is the best in the world. Seven days, you were loud and proud. You were loud and proud all the way this year." - Pat Kraft says to open his statement.
Kraft notes Rhoades' passion for the game and excitement for Penn State. "His love for his players blew us away, we loved him from the start."
Rhoades' starts off by giving a shoutout to the Legion of Blue, "you're the reason we're here." Says his program will always be about the students.
"I'm looking forward to building a great relationship with so many people."
"I'm looking forward to building a great relationship with so many people."
"If you put a Yuenling truck out there, look out," Rhoades says about his family and Schuylkill County family being here today.
Rhoades confirmed that Jamal Brunt, J.D. Byers, Brent Scott, Jimmy Martelli, and Joe Crispin are all here, assuming that means they're all be on his staff here. No surprise as that was our belief.
Rhoades is now noting that the alignment from the president all the way down to him is something that sticks out. That's something that we've heard quite a bit from James Franklin quite a bit since Pat Kraft has taken over last summer.
"It's Penn State, I've known Penn State since I've been born. My dad used to drive us up here for all different things. It's a cool place, who wouldn't want to be here? Then you get to coach basketball here? I'm going to wake up tomorrow and be the coach at Penn State. Are you crazy? Why not? Why not now?" - Mike Rhoades as if he saw Penn State as a destination job.
Pat Kraft also notes they released all the details of the contract to be very transparent.
Pat Kraft also notes they released all the details of the contract to be very transparent.
Pat Kraft on Joe Crispin - "We see the game similar in how we want to do things. Him bleeding on this court and sweating on this court adds to this, if e can give that to the guys in the program and share that, that's a home run."
As one could tell, Rhoades is very excited to be back in Pennsylvania and home. He's heard from a lot of his former teammates, friends, and coaches across the state.
The one thing that Pat Kraft won't go into is how the search process developed. "It's a very diligent process, you have to work the phones, and you have to take your time but we're not going to get into the specifics."
When it came to recruiting Philadelphia and how he can improve that. "Hire a Martelli," Rhoades joked. Jimmy Martelli is of course the son of legendary St. Joes head coach Phil Martelli.
"I've always loved Penn State, two hours away, I grew up in Schuylkill County." Notes he watched Penn State vs Iowa wrestling two years ago and already had a Penn State wrestling shirt."
"I'm a pitbull with manners," is how Rhoades describes himself personally. "You always have to be pushing to get better."
Mike noted that both his brother and sister went here, and his dad went to grad school at PSU.
I'll be interested to see how the coaching staff shakes out between Crispin and the four that Rhoades is brining with him from VCU. I initially thought that Joe would be an on-court coach, but wonder now if he'll be in more of an Administrative role (assuming that Martelli will also be behind the scenes as the DOBO or a similar role).
