Kickin’ It with Paul Rhoads: Coaching philosophy, love of the game, and more

[Letterkenny]

I respectfully disagree that he wasn't a good coach. That's a very broad brush. He was the DC for 2 power 5 schools and became a head coach. That's a lot of interviews to go through vs lucking into the jobs.

Now, was he a great evaluator of coaches or recruits, maybe that was the issue. And I'm sure you can say that's part of being a head coach. But the shitstorm that was a result of the Big XII's demise set the program and his recruiting way back. Unfortunately, at a school like this, you need everything out of control to go your way.

I agree that Prohm was not a great coach. Paul, I think was a perfect fit for the time and was a really good coach. But you can't miss on the other areas whether your fault or the fault of things you can't control.

It's obvious that Woody and Mahoney loved this guy as their coach.

Rhoads was an above average coach by Iowa State standards. Took over a team that had gone 5-19 the past 2 seasons and won a bowl game his first year. They just never replaced the defensive talent after that core group of guys graduated. The defensive line especially, was atrocious his last 3 years. They still got some offensive talent, but it felt like they were giving up 40pts/game those years and couldn't keep up.

 

[Cyghhh]

I have a theory that former coaches aren’t completely appreciated until a team is on their second replacement. Or maybe it just takes a certain amount of time. But it took a while for mccarney to get to that point. Hopefully we are getting there with Rhoads.

Rhoads was the first Iowa State coach that made me believe we could beat good teams that weren’t Iowa. McCarney never made me believe that. And Rhoads was the first coach that made me think that Jack Trice could almost be as fun as Hilton.

It ended poorly. But it’s hard to say we didn’t end up exactly where we needed to be.

Makes sense, coaches don't usually leave on a good note. Either leaving for a bigger program or getting fired for not doing well. The old adage is true though, time heals

 

[cycloneted]

Enjoyed the interview and hearing from CPR.

I think it would be fun if they had him back to talk about more non-ISU stuff, maybe not so much a where are they now, but it would be interesting to hear a story or two about his other stops since leaving ISU, his involvement with high school football on the Gulf Coast, living down there now, how often he gets back to Clear Lake/Iowa, etc.

 

[AllInForISU]

I respectfully disagree that he wasn't a good coach. That's a very broad brush. He was the DC for 2 power 5 schools and became a head coach. That's a lot of interviews to go through vs lucking into the jobs.

Now, was he a great evaluator of coaches or recruits, maybe that was the issue. And I'm sure you can say that's part of being a head coach. But the shitstorm that was a result of the Big XII's demise set the program and his recruiting way back. Unfortunately, at a school like this, you need everything out of control to go your way.

I agree that Prohm was not a great coach. Paul, I think was a perfect fit for the time and was a really good coach. But you can't miss on the other areas whether your fault or the fault of things you can't control.

It's obvious that Woody and Mahoney loved this guy as their coach.

Bad coach? I don’t necessarily think he was, but I don’t think he would be considered good now.

Head coach? Not good. He was fine for the first 4 years, and then bad for 3. His recruiting was sub-par at best, and his in game management was not great either. Could he scheme a defense? It appeared so, at least for a while, but as a HC there is so much more that needs to be done to be considered good.

He was a rah-rah guy that made you feel good.

This is taking nothing away from him as a person, as he seems like a tremendous guy, but as a coach, specifically a head coach, I’m not sure how you can quantify him as good.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

There are a lot of coaches that are great position or coordinators but are not good head coaches. It has to be a hard adjust going from working with a few players to overseeing the entire team, dealing with press and administration that the position coach does not have to deal with.

I tend to think Rhodes was like many, a decent position or coordinator, just not really cut out to be the guy at the top. Many try to be, few are really successful.
Rhodes was successful with the recruits that the previous coaching staff had brought in, once those players left the program, the players he recruited were a drop off in talent overall.

 

[Cyched]

Probably not the greatest HC at the time, but the rah-rah local guy was what the program and fan base needed post-Chizik when we were still trying to build interest.

 

[cayin]

Great interview. Love PR. But is program was basically derailed to bad recruiting classes. The staff couldn't tell players if they would be at playing at a P5 school or not. Image that, that had to be really hard. His 2012 was close to 8-4

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

There are a lot of coaches that are great position or coordinators but are not good head coaches. It has to be a hard adjust going from working with a few players to overseeing the entire team, dealing with press and administration that the position coach does not have to deal with.

I tend to think Rhodes was like many, a decent position or coordinator, just not really cut out to be the guy at the top. Many try to be, few are really successful.
Rhodes was successful with the recruits that the previous coaching staff had brought in, once those players left the program, the players he recruited were a drop off in talent overall.

The things he touched special teams and motivation(personality) were good. He just didn't have the overall picture needed to be a strong head coach, maintaining strong assistants was probably the biggest issue. There was a lot of bad luck too. Not everything was a result of his doing; realignment, poor donor base, program history.

 

[Saul_T]

I think a lot of people, and perhaps rightfully so, look at Rhoads and only see his record. A guy with Rhoads' passion not just for football but for the young men in the locker room, was essential after what Chizik did. You could feel his words and know it wasn't coach speak. Things didn't pan out, but I hope his legacy and the players he coached aren't lost to history because of the immediate success after his tenure.

 

[madguy30]

The further we get away from it, the more he reminds me of Steve Prohm.

A pretty nice guy who is not a good coach, but caught some lucky recruiting breaks early in his career due the guy before him.

CSP recruited very well long after getting there at least at the guard position.

CPR got some good ones too, just no depth.

 

[Cyched]

Rhoads was the first Iowa State coach that made me believe we could beat good teams that weren’t Iowa. McCarney never made me believe that. And Rhoads was the first coach that made me think that Jack Trice could almost be as fun as Hilton.

I grew up during the McCarney era. Back then, we sold out JTS when Iowa and Nebraska came to town. Good luck any of those other times. I was there for the infamous Mizzou game in 04 when the crowd was terrible.

I think it was around 2011 or so when we started getting 50K a game, every game. And that was a big deal.

We sold out against Texas that same year, and KSU & OU the next.

Now we can count on ~60K if the team is good and it's a big game.

 

[Cymark86]

I respectfully disagree that he wasn't a good coach. That's a very broad brush. He was the DC for 2 power 5 schools and became a head coach. That's a lot of interviews to go through vs lucking into the jobs.

Now, was he a great evaluator of coaches or recruits, maybe that was the issue. And I'm sure you can say that's part of being a head coach. But the shitstorm that was a result of the Big XII's demise set the program and his recruiting way back. Unfortunately, at a school like this, you need everything out of control to go your way.

I agree that Prohm was not a great coach. Paul, I think was a perfect fit for the time and was a really good coach. But you can't miss on the other areas whether your fault or the fault of things you can't control.

It's obvious that Woody and Mahoney loved this guy as their coach.

What I liked about Paul kind of led to his demise. Loved his emotions and willingness to put that out there, but coaches like that rarely have long term success. Shower term, obvious highs, but long term it rarely works.

He alluded to that KSU game in the interview. He keeps a level head, he probably doesn’t

I respectfully disagree that he wasn't a good coach. That's a very broad brush. He was the DC for 2 power 5 schools and became a head coach. That's a lot of interviews to go through vs lucking into the jobs.

Now, was he a great evaluator of coaches or recruits, maybe that was the issue. And I'm sure you can say that's part of being a head coach. But the shitstorm that was a result of the Big XII's demise set the program and his recruiting way back. Unfortunately, at a school like this, you need everything out of control to go your way.

I agree that Prohm was not a great coach. Paul, I think was a perfect fit for the time and was a really good coach. But you can't miss on the other areas whether your fault or the fault of things you can't control.

It's obvious that Woody and Mahoney loved this guy as their coach.

In my view, what many of us loved about Paul probably cost him his job. Loved his emotion and willingness to put that out there, but if he keeps his head, we don’t lose to KSU, and he keeps his job.

Matter of fact, I think he pulled something similar later in the year against OSU where he didn’t know down and distance that cost us in that game. Coaches high on emotion rarely have long term success. Short term highs, for sure, just hard to sustain long term.

 

[Cymark86]

Probably not the greatest HC at the time, but the rah-rah local guy was what the program and fan base needed post-Chizik when we were still trying to build interest.

This for sure. Needed a guy who wanted to be here. Just wish he could have sustained long term.

 

[Cyched]

I was in school 09-13, so saw the best of Rhoads when I was a student. Close to the same age as Grant and Woody. PR was "my" coach so to speak.

Some fun memories going to games as students (even with a few duds sprinkled in).

*These are home games, not counting the other obvious ones against Nubs and TX

 

[jsb]

I grew up during the McCarney era. Back then, we sold out JTS when Iowa and Nebraska came to town. Good luck any of those other times. I was there for the infamous Mizzou game in 04 when the crowd was terrible.

I think it was around 2011 or so when we started getting 50K a game, every game. And that was a big deal.

We sold out against Texas that same year, and KSU & OU the next.

Now we can count on ~60K if the team is good and it's a big game.

In the early to mid 90's, they'd have a 4-H day where 4-H kids could get free tickets to a game. The ones I remember were conference games. You'd have your pick of seats. Hell, you'd have your pick of an entire row. It's too bad we didn't support football better then.

 

[istater7]

I grew up during the McCarney era. Back then, we sold out JTS when Iowa and Nebraska came to town. Good luck any of those other times. I was there for the infamous Mizzou game in 04 when the crowd was terrible.

I think it was around 2011 or so when we started getting 50K a game, every game. And that was a big deal.

We sold out against Texas that same year, and KSU & OU the next.

Now we can count on ~60K if the team is good and it's a big game.

Say what you want about Rhoads, but his era made ISU football exciting, and brought passion to the fan base. Without that groundwork, it would’ve made Campbell’s job even more difficult.

 

[13stsurvivor]

Regardless, it was a great interview and he is a great individual. Huge thanks to Grant, Jeff and Cyclone Fanatic for making it happen. Just so great to see and hear him reminisce. Brought back a lot of great memories and insight behind it all. Thanks again CF staff!

 

[CyGuy5]

Rhoads is a little like McCarney in the sense that you can tell how much the job meant to them. I’ll always be a fan of him, even after the way things ended.

 

[stateofmind]

Rhodes is a little like McCarney in the sense that you can tell how much the job meant to them. I’ll always be a fan of him, even after the way things ended.

Who? Best to just say CPR.

 

[cycloneworld]

We wouldn’t be where we are now without Dan McCarney.

We wouldn’t be where we are now without Paul Rhoads.

Both had major flaws and issues but their overall contributions made Iowa State a better program.