Ben Rhoades is the new head coach of the SHS boys basketball team. He was the assistant coach during the 2023-24 season alongside previous head coach Bill Zych. After Zych resigned from the head coach role, Rhoades decided to step up and fill the position.
What are your thoughts on being head coach this year?
I’m very excited about being the head coach at Southport. It’s a place I’ve lived for the last 25 years, and I think there’s a lot of potential here since I’d like to bring a lot of the basketball pride back to the community.
What’s your previous background involving basketball?
In the last 24 years, I have coached at Ben Davis, where we won the state championship. I was the head coach at Mt. Vernon. I was also an assistant coach at Franklin Central and Perry Meridian.
Why are you so passionate about basketball?
I think basketball is a good opportunity to help players and kids become better leaders in their lives, in their family (and) in business and (become) better overall people. It’s not just about the sport.
How do you feel about the team so far?
I think we’re a work in progress. The guys are working hard. I really like being around them every day. I think they’re having a good time right now. We’ll see how that translates into our performance on the floor.
What are your goals for this season?
I mean I think for this season, we just want to continue to get better every day, and the goal is to be playing the best basketball when the state tournament gets here. You know, just see what can happen.
What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
Just being around a different group of guys. I think every team is always fun to be around and see what you can accomplish together as a group. Basketball is not just one individual, it’s everybody together, so I think it’s always fun to see where you end up at the end of the year.
