Rhodes leaving Rockets
Since taking over the Jefferson-Morgan wrestling program as head coach in 2007, Scott Rhodes has spent more time than he can remember either at practice, offseason workouts, tournaments or dual meets.
Now, he is taking time for himself so he can spend it with his family.
Rhodes and assistant coach Mike Lesko each submitted their letters of resignation to the Jefferson-Morgan School Board at Monday night’s meeting.
“My son is getting involved in more and more things, and I want to spend more time with him,” said the 45-year-old Rhodes. “It’s time to devote time to him and my daughter.”
Rhodes has had the Rockets in the WPIAL Team Tournament in each of his six seasons as head coach. Two years ago, the Rockets made it to the Class AA finals only to fall to Burrell, 34-31. Last season, Jefferson-Morgan advanced to the semifinals before losing to South Fayette, 37-23.
Rhodes took three wrestlers to Hershey for last season’s PIAA Individual Championships, and two of them came back with medals. John Demaske finished fourth at 126, and Dustin Conti was third at 170.
“I love going to Hershey,” Rhodes said. “I love to watch the good wrestling there. I like to coach there, too. It’s such an intense tournament. Every wrestler is determined to be part of it when the season starts, but not everyone gets the chance.”
Rhodes said one of the most special times of his coaching career came as an assistant coach to Ron Headlee in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
“To be able to sit in the corner with Ron and watch Cary Kolat wrestle …” he said. “That was special.”
Kolat won four straight PIAA championships – he’s one of only 10 wrestlers to accomplish that feat in PIAA history – and finished his career with a 137-0 record.
Kolat also helped spark the Rockets run in the WPIAL Team tournament. They captured five team titles in seven seasons (1989-95).
“Five WPIAL championships in eight years,” Rhodes said. “We were making the tournament pretty much every year I coached there.”
Rhodes doesn’t know who the board might settle on as his replacement.
“I asked several guys what their plans were,” he said. “I don’t think any one guy has an advantage (over the other) now. It’s not been advertised yet.”
Rhodes said he enjoyed coaching and will miss the wrestlers.
“You always think the time to hang it up will come,” he said. “I always said it would. You just never want that day to come.”