THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 14, 1995 TAG: 9512140521
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Carl Rhodes, who has been Churchland High School's baseball coach since 1973, has resigned.
Rhodes, who is the school's science department chairman, will continue his teaching position in biology.
Rhodes, 51, who was an All-Tidewater football player at Wilson and a graduate of VMI, produced three Southeastern District championship baseball teams at Churchland. He had two teams reach the Eastern Region finals and several advance to postseason play.
``I feel it's just time to step down,'' said Rhodes, who has coached longer than any current Southeastern baseball coach except Great Bridge's Martin Oliver.
``I may still keep my hand in the sport as a Little League baseball umpire,'' he said.
Rhodes began his coaching career at Wilson in 1967 as a junior varsity coach. After a stint in the Army, he joined the Churchland football staff in 1969 and was the top assistant to Bill Strickland for 16 years, during which time the Truckers won two Southeastern titles.
He succeeded Strickland as head coach, resigning after three years.
He coached junior varsity baseball for one year and replaced Dick Esleeck as head coach the following season.
Since then, his teams have won more than 200 games. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Carl Rhodes
by CNB