THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512150216
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
In the spring of 1996, the Churchland baseball team will be without No. 20.
Actually, the uniform number should be No. 1.
Carl Rhodes has resigned as head coach of the Truckers, a position he held since 1973.
Rhodes has built Churchland into a perennial Southeastern District title contender. His teams won three district crowns, qualified for several post-season playoffs and twice advanced to the Eastern Region finals. Rarely was Churchland not a finisher in the upper ranks of the conference.
Through his 23 years, Rhodes, 51, led the Truckers to more than 200 victories.
Simply saying he ``thought it was about time for me to step down,'' Rhodes plans to continue teaching biology at Churchland. He is chairman of the school's science department.
Rhodes said he might keep his hand in the sport as a Little League umpire. For many years, he has been one of the instructors at the Bullet Alexander Umpire Camp, which holds an annual clinic to develop new umpires at all levels of play.
Rhodes was an All-Tidewater football end at Wilson High School who earned a football grant to VMI. After graduating from VMI, he returned to Wilson as an assistant coach.
After one year, he entered the Army as a second lieutenant. Following two years of military duty, he went into the reserves and retired as a lieutenant colonel.
Rhodes returned to coaching in 1969 at Churchland, joining Bill Strickland's football staff. He was Strickland's top aide for 16 years and succeeded him as head coach, serving in that position for three years.
Rhodes became Churchland's junior varsity baseball coach in 1972 and replaced Dick Esleeck as head coach the next year.
Along with Great Bridge's Martin Oliver, he became the dean of coaches in the district.
Three times his Truckers won the district championship. Two of those teams reached the Eastern Region final.
He is reluctant to compare players and teams but says one of his proudest moments was his first regional qualifier.
``We had a really good bunch of sophomores on that team,'' he recalled. ``Three of them went on to play college baseball.''
Some of his standout players include this year's city MVP, Gary Denette; Billy Kline, now the junior varsity baseball coach at Wilson; Billy Goodrich, the city's outstanding player in 1991; and Ryan Glynn, a VMI star who signed a professional contract. Rhodes also coached his two sons, both exceptional players.
Athletics at Churchland have long been the focal point in the Rhodes home. Carl's wife, Kendall, has been an avid follower of the teams. Many times she helped him inventory equipment.
``I think she might be a little disappointed in my decision,'' Rhodes said.
Rhodes assisted in designing the current baseball complex at Churchland when the new school was constructed and spent countless hours in maintaining the field in superb playing condition. He also coached in Churchland youth leagues and has been one of the ardent supporters of community baseball programs.
Perhaps Rhodes' coaching philosophy requiring dedication and hard work was best expressed a few years back when he said ``in later life it's those who go to work every day that succeed. I may not be a part of the reward, but I hope my efforts help them later when they are out there in the real world.''
Churchland principal Raymond Hale said it was ``with great reluctance'' that he accepted Rhodes' resignation.
``I hate to see Rhodes give it up,'' said Strickland, Churchland's athletic director. ``Through the years, I have watched his teams and I know he is one of the very best baseball coaches in the area.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Carl Rhodes has been head coach of the Churchland High Truckers
since 1973.
by CNB