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Chris Rhodes

Chris Rhodes

22nd Year
Edinboro ‘95
 
Former Edinboro All-American Chris Rhodes was appointed the head swimming coach at his alma mater in October of 2001. Rhodes’ goal since taking over has been simple yet ambitious - to return the Fighting Scots to a prominent spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Now in his 19th year, he has done just that.
 
In addition to his duties as Edinboro’s swimming coach, Rhodes assumed the role of overseeing Edinboro’s eSports program.
 
Rhodes competed for Edinboro from 1991-95, earning All-American honors in 1993-94 and 1994-95 as a member of freestyle relay teams. He also earned All-PSAC honors and set a school record as a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team. That relay team finished second at the NCAA Division II National Championships and set a conference record that stood for six years. A key part of legendary teams while a swimmer at Edinboro.
 
Since taking over the Fighting Scots, Rhodes has been able to continually produce a high percentage of his swimmers to PSAC-qualifying levels. In the pool, he has had 19 All-American performances, led by Brooke Heath. Competing from 2004-08, she was an 11-time All-American, plus one honorable mention performance, along with 14 All-PSAC efforts. She began her career being named the PSAC Women’s Swimming Freshman of the Year in 2004-05, and ended it in 2007-08 as the PSAC Women’s Swimming Athlete of the Year. 
 
Rhodes was selected as Edinboro’s Coach of the Year in 2007-08 after leading the Fighting Scots’ women’s team to a fourth-place showing at the PSAC Championships, along with a 12-1 record in dual meets. The men’s team would finish fifth at the PSAC Championships.
 
The Edinboro women’s swimming team recorded its highest finish at the PSAC Championships in 2013-14, coming in third, along with ending the dual season undefeated at 9-0. The men’s team had their highest finish in 2010-11 and ’11-12, coming in third both years.
 
In addition, Rhodes’ teams have excelled in the classroom each year. Both the men’s and women’s teams have traditionally been recognized as College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Teams, with team GPA’s greater than 3.00.
 
In the past six years, Edinboro swimmers have been the PSAC Champion Scholar recipient five times. Jeff Schleicher won the men’s honor in 2012-13, and Micah Catell won the honor in 2014-15 and again in 2015-16. In fact, Edinboro swept the award in 2015-16, with Emily Kling the women’s recipient. She would repeat in 2016-17. 
 
Fighting Scots’ swimmers have set multiple school records during Rhodes’ tenure. He has built a reputation for improving the performance of his swimmers each year while maintaining a solid academic record. 

Rhodes began his coaching career as an assistant swimming coach at Titusville High School in 1996-97,then moved on to Ashland University, one of the top programs on the Division II level, as an assistant swimming coach while completing work on his master's degree in Reading, which he received in August 1999. He coached a two-time national champion while at Ashland.
 
Rhodes returned to western Pennsylvania as the assistant swimming coach at Oil City Area High School for the 1999-2000 season.  He has also served as the head coach of the Stroke Development Camp at Westminster College.  In addition, he has been a Reading Specialist in the Oil City Area School District.
 
Rhodes graduated from Edinboro in December 1995 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education.  He and his wife Stephanie reside in Edinboro, along with their sons, Greysen and Griffin, and daughter, Charlie. He is a member of the College Swim Coaches Association of America and the American Swimming Coaches Association.

Academics have also been a major part of Rhodes’ agenda. His women’s teams have earned College Swimming Coaches Association of America All-Academic honors every semester but one, and the men’s team has earned similar honors.
 
WOMEN'S SWIMMING YEAR-BY-YEAR
 
Year Record PSAC Finish
2001-02    4-7 10th/12 teams
2002-03    4-6    11th/12 teams
2003-04 2-9 11th/13 teams
2004-05 4-6 11th/13 teams
2005-06 8-4 8th/13 teams
2006-07 4-7 6th/13 teams
2007-08 12-1 4th/13 teams
2008-09 11-2 6th/14 teams
2009-10 4-5 8th/13 teams
2010-11 4-4 7th/13 teams
2011-12 8-2 6th/13 teams
2012-13 6-3 5th/13 teams
2013-14 9-0 3rd/13 teams
2014-15 4-3 7th/13 teams
2015-16 4-2 7th/12 teams
2016-17 4-3 6th/12 teams
2017-18 2-4 8th/12 teams
2018-19 1-5 8th/12 teams
2019-20 4-2 5th/12 teams
2020-21 No Championship
2021-22 7th/12 teams
2022-23 6-4 6th/12 teams

MEN'S SWIMMING YEAR-BY-YEAR
 
Year Record PSAC Finish
2001-02    1-8 8th/8 teams
2002-03    1-6    7th/8 teams
2003-04 2-7 8th/8 teams
2004-05 3-5 7th/8 teams
2005-06 5-5 7th/8 teams
2006-07 4-5 5th/7 teams
2007-08 4-6 5th/7 teams
2008-09 4-7 7th/8 teams
2009-10 5-3 4th/7 teams
2010-11 3-3 3rd/7 teams
2011-12 5-3 3rd/7 teams
2012-13 2-5 6th/7 teams
2013-14 1-7 5th/7 teams
2014-15 4-3 7th/7 teams
 2015-16    3-3 5th/7 teams
2016-17 1-6 7th/7 teams
2017-18 1-5 7th/7 teams
2018-19 0-6 7th/7 teams
2019-20 1-5 7th/7 teams
2020-21 No Season
2021-22 0-5 7th/7 teams
2022-23 1-7 7th/7 teams

HONORS & AWARDS
 
Year Name Award
  2004-05    Brooke Heath PSAC Rookie of the Year
2007-08 Brooke Heath    PSAC Swimmer of the Year
PSAC Championships Outstanding Swimmer
2008-09    Max Niggel PSAC Freshman of the Year

ALL-AMERICANS
 
Year Name Event & Finish
  2004-05    Brooke Heath 100-yard breaststroke -- 4th 
200-yard breaststroke -- 3rd 
200-yard IM (HM) -- 10th
2005-06    Brooke Heath 100-yard breaststroke -- 2nd
200-yard breaststroke -- 2nd
200-yard IM -- 5th
2006-07 Brooke Heath 100-yard breaststroke -- 4th
200-yard breaststroke -- 2nd
200-yard IM -- 7th
2007-08 Brooke Heath 100-yard breaststroke -- 3rd
200-yard breaststroke -- 2nd
200-yard IM -- 5th
Marie Nedley 1650-yard freestyle (HM) -- 10th
2009-10 Zak Clifford 200-yard backstroke (HM) -- 13th
2013-14 Holly Stein 100-yard breaststroke -- 7th
Goezde Tekin 200-yard butterfly (HM) -- 12th
2014-15 Staci Schrecongost 200-yard freestyle -- 7th
500-yard freestyle (HM) -- 15th
2022-23 Stephanie Sipple 200-yard butterfly (HM) -- 16th