Kepler Adds Rhodes to Track & Field Staff

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah head cross country and track & field coach Kyle Kepler announced the addition of Rebecca Rhodes to his staff.
 
A former track & field student-athlete, Rhodes competed at the University of Oregon (2008-12) and moved into the coaching ranks after graduation.
 
"I'm excited to add Rebecca to our staff," Kepler said. "Her ability to develop and lead student athletes throughout her coaching career really stood out during our search process. Her energy and overall positivity with everyone allows her to connect in a special way with student-athletes, recruits, staff, alumni and Utah as a whole. Her familiarity with our league as a very successful student-athlete at the University of Oregon is something that I believe will allow her to build and develop her event groups."
 
Rhodes comes to SLC having spent the last four seasons (2017-21) at Eastern Oregon where she served as an assistant track & field/cross country coach. While in La Grande, Ore., her student-athletes set numerous indoor and outdoor records – including 20 new school records for a total of 123 top-10 program marks. Rhodes also coached 10 All-Americans at Eastern Oregon with 47 student-athletes qualifying for the national meet. She helped guide Megan Bolton earn a runner-up finish in the 600m (1:31.9) and also led Paige Dodd to a runner-up finish in the pentathlon with a score of 3,419.
 
Rhodes was named the USTFCCCA Indoor West Region Assistant Women's Coach of the Year three-consecutive seasons (2018-21) by her peers. She also swept the award in 2019-20, earning west region assistant coach of the year on both the men's and women's side.
 
Prior to her stint at EOU, Rhodes had two successful seasons at Misericordia University (2015-17) where she saw 11 of her student-athletes earn All-America honors while also breaking 21 school records (sprints and hurdles). Under Rhodes' guidance, Juwan Pettis-Jackson captured the NCAA Indoor 200m title. In addition, she also coached a pair of runner-up finishers at the NCAA Championships in Oniesha Clarke (outdoor 100m, 11.64) and Reilly Wagner (indoor pentathlon, 3,456 points). Clarke also finished third in the 60m dash (7.63) during the indoor season.
 
Before her time with Misericordia, Rhodes served as an assistant track & field coach at Moravian College (2014-15) for a season. During her short stint with the Greyhounds, she coached one record holder, a national qualifier and seven conference champions.
 
Rhodes got her coaching start immediately after graduating at nearby Lane Community College for two seasons (2012-14) as the assistant track & field coach. Her impact was immediately with the Titans winning four conference championships in track & field during her time there. While at LCC Rhodes saw Kara Hollack set the school record in the 100m hurdles (14.16), Sean McGentrick set the 100m hurdles (14.37) record and Jalen Tims set the 400m hurdles (1:02.01) record.
 
During her time as a student-athlete with the Ducks, Rhodes was a two-time Pac-12 scorer and qualified for the NCAA West Region meet as a senior in the long jump and 100m hurdles. Her time of 8.62 in the 60m hurdles (indoor) still stands in the Women of Oregon record books sitting in a tie for 10th.
 
In addition, Rhodes is USATF Level Two certified in jumps, USTAFCCA Level Two certified in multi-events and USTAFCCCA Strength and Conditioning certified.
 
Rhodes earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Oregon in 2012 and later obtained her MBA with a specialization in sports management from Misericordia University in 2017.
 
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