Penn basketball coach Al Rhodes captures 600th win

-
2:23
Local elementary robotics team seeking community’s help to...
-
1:11
Mild, dry weather Monday; rain arrives late tonight
-
2:50
Rain is on the way, but you can enjoy the warmer weather and...
-
2:00
Much warmer, but cloudier to end the weekend
-
2:31
A warm burst to start the week is followed up with rain
-
1:51
Sunny today; breezy all weekend
-
3:15
The harm and possible crackdown on catalytic converter thefts
-
0:21
New charter school opening in Elkhart for Fall 2023 enrollment
-
1:59
Benton Harbor receives federal funding as they near end of water...
-
0:21
Pet adoption event Saturday at Petsmart
-
0:33
Tax help for South Bend residents Feb. 11 at IUSB
-
3:36
School, city, and athletic officials react to large fight at...
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - While the Penn Kingsmen approached Thursday's road game at South Bend Washington as any other regular season game, the importance was shown in the immediate celebration afterwards.
Why? Because the 71-56 win was the 600th career victory for Penn coach Al Rhodes.
"600 wins is something that's special in Indiana high school basketball," he said after the game. "I couldn't have a better team to do it with. I just really appreciate the seniors, the way they're playing together.I'm very, very proud."
Rhodes is just the 14th coach in state history to reach the 600 mark, and is in the top-five among active coaches. Many of his wins came during his time at Warsaw, where he won the 1984 state title, along with stops at Fort Wayne Northrup and Logansport before returning to his alma mater. He's spent the past 11 seasons at Penn, winning 146 games.
Still, despite his accomplishments, he couldn't help but mention everyone who's been along for the ride.
"I wish my wife was here," he said. "With the Thursday game, she couldn't make it. But she's been the biggest part of that. I think of all the assistant coaches and all the players. A really proud moment here."
Rhodes joked that he'll be satisfied once he passes his former high school coach, Penn's Jim Miller, who sits just ahead at 607.
He should capture that goal in the next few weeks, as the Kingsmen are still undefeated and improve to 5-0 on the season.