Middle Georgia State University (MGA) welcomes the new head coach of the Knights women’s basketball program, Steven Rhodes! His most recent job prior to joining MGA was associate head coach for the University of South Carolina-Upstate, an NCAA Division I member of the Big South Conference. MGA has initiated a plan to transition its intercollegiate athletics program membership from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and the Peach Belt Conference. 

In this edition of “3 Quick Questions”, we get to know what drew Rhodes to MGA, what fans can expect from the team this season, and how he defines true success. 

What attracted you to Middle Georgia State and this coaching opportunity? 

"The first thing that attracted me to Middle Georgia State is the momentum of the University and the athletic department. As I dug deeper Middle Georgia State stood out to me because of the clear commitment to building something special not just in athletics, but across the entire university. The transition to NCAA Division II and joining the Peach Belt Conference is an exciting new chapter, and I felt a strong alignment between my vision and the department’s direction. I believe you win with people and everyone I interacted with on my first visit to campus it was clear that the people of the Middle Georgia community are special and like no where else."

 What’s one thing fans can expect to see from your team this upcoming season?

 "You’re going to see a team that’s deeply connected and one that plays for each other and represents Middle Georgia State with pride. We’ll play fast, we’ll shoot a lot of threes, and defensively, we’re going to make you earn every single point. There will be a real toughness to us, but we will also play with a level of joy. You’ll see players who love the game and love playing for each other. Right now, the excitement around women’s basketball is exploding—and we want to be part of that wave. We're building a brand here at MGA and I can promise a fun product on the floor, but I do want to ask for your support. I think Morris Gymnasium can be the toughest place to play in the country. So, I ask everyone reading this to join the Knight Shift and I hope to see you at games this year!"

How do you define success for your student-athletes—on and off the court? 

"On the court our goal is to raise the floor every day. Too oftentimes we think growth is making our best better, but we will find success on the court by making sure we keep improving our worst every time we step on the floor. Success overall as a program is defined by who we are off the court. I feel my calling is to grow people not to coach basketball and this role provides the opportunity to do just that. Therefore, success in our program is graduating everyone in our program and developing young women of character that will positively impact the community they walk into after leaving Middle Georgia. If each player in our program leaves here with a degree, strong values, and lifelong relationships and have some great basketball memories to go with it then we have done our job."