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Ohio State

Longtime college football coach Paul Rhoads making big career move

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•02/03/22
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(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Paul Rhoads is one of the most experienced college football coaches in the country. On Thursday, it was announced he’s decided to become a defensive coordinator at the high school level. Rhoads will be leaving his post as a defensive analyst for Ohio State to become the defensive coordinator for Gulf Shores (Gulf Shores, Alabama).

Gulf Shores also made another official announcement on Twitter on Thursday night in welcoming Rhoads.

The statement reads: “Please join us in welcoming longtime FBS Power 5 Head Coach and Coordinator, Paul Rhoads and wife Vickie to the Gulf Shores Family.

“Paul Rhoads, who brings with him 33 years of experience as a head coach, coordinator, and analyst will join the Gulf Shores football staff in February 2022 as a Defensive Coordinator. Rhoads comes to Gulf Shores with 11 years of Power 5 defensive coordinating experience.

“Rhoads spent the 2021 season as the defensive analyst for Ohio State, the 2020 season as the defensive coordinator at the University of Arizona, and the 2018 and 2019 seasons as the defensive backs coach at UCLA.”

One of the highlights of Rhoads’ impressive college football coaching resume came in 2007, when he was the defensive coordinator for the Pitt Panthers.

The Panthers’ defense was among the nation’s leaders in a number of categories: they finished fifth in the nation in total defense (297.7 yards per game) and third nationally in pass defense (167.3 yards per game).

While the team finished 5-7 that season, they finished off their season on a high note by stunning the second-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers in a 13-9 victory. The Pitt defense limited West Virginia’s high-octane offense to 183 yards (292 yards below their average).