Former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads has found a new home. Bruce Feldman announced on Twitter that Rhoads accepted the defensive back coaching position at Arkansas.
#Arkansas has hired ex #IowaState HC Paul Rhoads as Hogs new DB coach.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 24, 2016
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Arkansas program and can’t wait to help build on the success coach Bielema and the staff have already experienced in three years,” Rhoads said to Arkansasfight.com. “Not only does coach Bielema have a track record of building winning programs but also developing young men of great character. Both are things I’m excited to be part of.”
The Arkansas position is Rhoads’ ninth over a 25-year collegiate career. He first joined the collegiate coaching ranks in 1989 when he was a graduate assistant at Utah State for two seasons and then at Ohio State in 1991. Rhoads then coached at the University of the Pacific for three years as pass game coordinator and assistant coach.
Rhoads first stint at Iowa State was as an assistant coach from 1995 to 1999, controlling the linebackers and and defensive secondary.
Rhoads took on more responsibility in 2000 when he was hired as defensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh, lasting for eight years. In that span, his defensive secondary included current New York Jets star cornerback and Super Bowl XLIX champion Darrelle Revis, who was selected in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Jets with the 14th pick. Rhoads then got his shot at leading the entire team with his return to Iowa State.
Rhoads first season in 2009 was a success, finishing with a 7-6 record and a victory in the Insight Bowl. That was the most success the program would generate under Rhoads, as the Cyclones totalled a record of 25-49 between 2010 and 2015, and he was fired.
This is a chance for Rhoads to redeem himself after his disastrous 2015 season. Rhoads molded Revis into the top cornerback that he is today, so Arkansas can form one of the best secondaries in the country while also giving Rhoads his best chance by coaching the secondary of the Razorbacks against one of the most dominant conferences in college football.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
