Paul Rhoads

College coach infobox


Name = Paul Rhoads
| ImageWidth =
Caption =
DateOfBirth = birth date and age|1967|2|2
Birthplace = Ankeny, IA
Sport = Football
College = Auburn
Conference = SEC
Title = Defensive coordinator
Defensive backs coach
Awards =
Championships =
CFbDWID =
Player = Y
Years = 1985-1988
Team = Missouri Western
Position = Defensive back
Coach = Y
CoachYears = 1989-1990
1991
1992-1994
1995-1999
2000-2007
2008-"present"
CoachTeams = Utah State (Grad Asst.)
Ohio State (Grad Asst.)
Pacific (Defensive backs)
Iowa State (LB/Secondary)
Pittsburgh (DC)
Auburn (DC)

Paul Rhoads (born birth date|1967|2|2 in Ankeny, Iowa) is an American college football coach. Rhoads is currently the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Auburn University football team.

Playing career

Rhoads was a prep special mention all-state free safety and valedictorian of his high school class before lettering for three-years at Missouri Western State University from 1986-1988, where he played defensive back. He graduated in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in economics and was the recipient of the Chris Faros Scholarship, honoring the program's top senior student-athlete. Rhoads earned a master's degree from Utah State University in 1991.

Coaching career

Rhoads began his coaching career under Chuck Shelton as a graduate assistant at Utah State working with the secondary. After serving in the same capacity under John Cooper at Ohio State, Rhoads received his first full time position as a defensive backs coach at University of the Pacific in 1992. The following season, the Pacific Tigers ranked 20th nationally in pass defense, allowing just 152 yards passing per game. In 1995, incoming head coach Dan McCarney hired Rhoads to join him at Iowa State, where he served as linebackers and secondary coach for 5 seasons. While with the Cyclones, Rhoads also assisted with the special teams.

Pittsburgh Panthers

In 2000, Rhoads was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Panthers by Walt Harris. In his first season, Rhoads was credited with improving the team's defense to their best performance since 1980. In 2001, his defensive unit ranked among the nation's top 30 in five different categories at season's end. Additionally, Pitt finished with 38 quarterback sacks. In 2002, the Panthers defense ranked among the nation's top 25 in an impressive seven different categories. In 2004, Pitt ranked ninth nationally with 17 interceptions and Rhoads was kept on staff by new head coach Dave Wannstedt. That decision proved wise as by then end of the 2005 season, Pitt was ranked second nationally in pass defense (yielding just 152.82 yards per game) and sixth in pass efficiency defense with a 99.36 rating. In 2006, "Sporting News" named Rhoads the Big East's best defensive coordinator. In 2007, Rhoads' defense was among the nation's leaders in various categories, finishing fifth nationally in total defense (allowing just 297.7 yards per games) and third nationally in pass defense (allowing just 167.3 yards per game). While the team finished 5–7, they ended on a high note by holding then-#2 ranked rival West Virginia to a season-low nine points in a 13-9 victory in the Backyard Brawl, limiting the Mountaineers high-powered offense to 183 yards (292 yards below their average).

Auburn Tigers

In 2002, coach Tommy Tuberville offered Rhoads a job to fill a vacant spot for defensive coordinator at Auburn.cite web | year=2008 | url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=338513 | title=Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads leaves for Auburn | publisher=Sporting News | accessdate=2008-01-19] Having completed only his second season at Pitt, Rhoads passed on the job with Tuberville eventually hiring Gene Chizik. However, when Will Muschamp resigned at the conclusion of the 2007 season, coach Tuberville again offered the job with Rhoads accepting to head the 2008 Tigers defense on January 17, 2008. [cite web | year=2008 | url=http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011808aad.html | title=Auburn Names Paul Rhoads Defensive Coordinator | publisher=Auburn Tigers | accessdate=2008-01-19] As head of Auburn's defense, Rhoads will also coach defensive backs, as did the Tigers' last four defensive coordinators. [cite web | year=2008 | url=http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011808aad.html | title=Rhoads ready to blend his schemes into Tigers' defense | publisher=The Birmingham News | accessdate=2008-01-19]

As of week 5 of the 2008 season, Rhoads has the new Auburn squad ranked in the top 20 in 6 defensive categories. Along with the #5 scoring defense in the nation, the Tigers D is also ranked 9th in pass efficiency, 12th in passing yards, 18th against the rush, 17th in tackles for loss and 11th in total defense. [cite web | year=2008 | url=http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?year=2008&org=37 | title=Auburn Football Ranking Summary | publisher=NCAA | accessdate=2008-09-28]

References

External links

* [http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rhoads_paul00.html Auburn Tigers official biography]
* [http://pittsburghpanthers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/rhoads_paul00.html Pittsburgh Panthers official biography]