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Penn State, VCU home-and-home to begin in 2024-25 season

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra•05/08/23•

SamraSource

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Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades will learn of multiple target decisions in the coming two weeks. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Don’t say Mike Rhoades left VCU for Penn State high and dry. At the least, he orchestrated a home-and-home series between the Rams and the Nittany Lions.

More information has been shared regarding the slew of games, which is tied to Rhoades’ buy-out. It should be an emotional, intense couple of games for the coach.

According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the home-and-home series is slated to begin after next season, giving Rhoades a year to marinate in Happy Valley, and VCU some time to adjust to their new situation.

“Source: The home-and-home series between VCU and Penn State — which is tied to Mike Rhoades’ buyout — is expected to begin during the 2024-25 season,” tweeted Rothstein. “Location is currently TBD.”

Alas, it’s a good thing the series will give Rhoades a year to adjust, along with VCU, but the games should still be a fun time.

More on Mike Rhoades, Penn State Men’s Basketball 

Continuing, Mike Rhoades signed a seven-year contract worth $3.4 million per year to start, according to the university. Each year, he’ll receive a $100,000 raise, taking him up to $4 million per year by the final year of the deal.

In addition, Rhoades’ buyout is $15 million for his first year and will drop by $3 million each year. After the fifth season — in which the buyout is $3 million — it will decrease to $1.5 million before becoming $0 after the contract runs out in 2030.

As far as incentives go, Rhoades could make up to $1.075 million in bonus. That includes $150,000 if he leads Penn State to at least a share of the Big Ten championship and $50,000 if he wins Big Ten Coach of the Year. In addition, an NCAA Tournament appearance would earn him $100,000 and he’d secure $75,000 for each win in the big dance.

Rhoades led VCU to an A-10 championship this year and a March Madness appearance after winning the conference tournament. The Rams finished the season 27-8 overall and 15-3 record in conference play before their season came to an end against Saint Mary’s in the NCAA Tournament.

Now, he’s gearing up to take over for Micah Shrewsberry, who left to become the new head coach at Notre Dame. 

Shrewsberry just wrapped up his second season with Penn State and turned the Nittany Lions around in a big way, leading them to a 23-14 overall record and a 10-10 mark in Big Ten play to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Their season came to an end in the second round against Texas.