Linus Rhode Named Women's Soccer Head Coach
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Linus Rhode (pronounced Ly-NESS road), who has served the past eight seasons as an assistant and associate head coach with the Oregon State women’s soccer program, has been promoted to the position of head coach, Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis announced on Friday.
“Linus (Rhode) is a terrific fit to lead our women’s soccer program,” De Carolis said. “He has Northwest ties, has been successful as a player at the highest collegiate level and has the respect of the student-athletes in the program. I think he will do a terrific job in keeping the program growing at the regional and national level.”
Rhode begins his ninth season at Oregon State and his first to serve as the head coach in the program after eight seasons as an assistant and associate head coach. During his time as an assistant and associate head coach, Rhode helped lead Oregon State to its best finish in the Pac-10 Conference (2003) since 1995, a top 20 national ranking (2005), wins over numerous top 10 programs and 32 shutouts including a school record of nine in 2004.
A number of student-athletes have received individual honors during his tenure as Oregon State players have earned 14 all-conference and 57 academic all-conference honors under his guidance, including Jodie Taylor, who was a four-time all-conference and all-region selection. In addition, student-athletes have excelled academically as the team has consistently ranked among the best in the conference in GPA and has seen numerous players earn ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.
Over the past eight seasons, his duties at Oregon State included all aspects of collegiate coaching, including helping plan practices, arranging team travel, recruiting, team training and directing summer camps.
“I would like to thank Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis and the rest of the athletic department administration for this wonderful opportunity,” Rhode said. “I am excited to have the opportunity to continue working with this program and help this team obtain its goal of reaching the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship on a regular basis.”
Prior to joining the Oregon State staff, Rhode spent two years as head coach of the McKenzie United Soccer Academy in Eugene. He has also served five years as the Oregon Olympic Development Team head coach, in addition to being a Region IV staff coach for both the boys and girls’ ODP programs.
Rhode played professionally for the New Orleans River Boat Gamblers in the “A” League and for Wynberg St. John’s in South Africa. He was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team from 1993-96, and was selected for the Canadian National U-20 Team.
Rhode, 34, graduated from the University of Portland with a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications. He captained Portland to the NCAA Division I Final Four in 1995.
Originally from British Columbia, Rhode graduated from Centennial High in Coquitlam.
He and his wife, Magda, have one daughter, Nina.
