C.J. Rhodes joined Coach Mau's staff prior to the 2018-19 academic year after working as an assistant at Randolph-Macon College, where he worked for six seasons and was named the Associate Head Coach prior to the 2018 campaign. Rhodes also spent two years at VCU as an assistant on Paul Keyes’ staff.
“Coach Rhodes leads the offensive unit and also oversees our infielders’ development,” said head coach Ryan Mau. “His deep connections throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia have been a great addition to our recruiting efforts.”
Under Rhodes' direction in 2020, the Lancers were tied for third in the Big South in hits, third in RBI, and fifth in team batting average and slugging percentage before the season was canceled by the Big South due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the Lancers were tied for sixth in doubles.
Prior to Longwood, the Williamsburg, Va., native spent eight seasons in Richmond, Va., between his time at VCU and Randolph-Macon. During his six seasons at Randolph-Macon, Rhodes was a part of 172 victories – the most in a six-year span for the program — including a program-record 38 wins for a Yellow Jackets team that advanced to the Division III College World Series in 2018.
Rhodes led all recruiting efforts at Randolph-Macon and assisted in all phases of the program, which included field instruction, strength and conditioning, academic affairs, and camps. The offense thrived under Rhodes’ guidance in 2018 as Randolph-Macon led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in runs scored (438), hits (547), home runs (54), RBI (380), walks drawn (253), slugging percentage (.491), and team OPS (.912).
Several Randolph-Macon players thrived in 2018 under Rhodes’ guidance, and seven players were selected to the VaSID College Division first team, including All-American pitcher Colin Selby, who was drafted in the 16th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
During the 2018 campaign, Rhodes’ first year as associate head coach, Randolph-Macon saw a huge jump in power, while sustaining consistent offense. The squad crushed 54 home runs, 29 more than the previous season and 24 more than the next closest team in the ODAC, while also improving a .318 team average to .323 in 2018. Seven players who appeared in at least half of the team’s games hit better than .300 and six players hit five or more home runs, led by Joseph Tuzzolo’s 11 home runs, .374 average and 1.104 OPS.
In his two seasons at VCU, Rhodes primarily focused on coaching the team’s hitters and catchers while also assisting with daily administrative duties. While at VCU, Rhodes mentored second baseman Vimael Machin, who is currently in Double-A in the Chicago Cubs system.
A native of Williamsburg, Va., Rhodes played four seasons at Division III Virginia Wesleyan College, where he was an all-conference, all-region, and all-state performer, hitting .331 with 48 doubles, 14 home runs, and 125 RBI in 152 career games. Rhodes was as reliable as they came behind the plate and at the dish as he was the first team all-conference catcher in 2009 and was second team All-South Region after leading his team with a .383 average and .453 on-base percentage. As a junior Rhodes earned second team all-ODAC honors and honorable mention All-South Region accolades by maintaining a .367 average with 23 extra-base hits. Rhodes earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan in 2009.
