Former Thomas Heyward AD heads back to the sidelines

It was just 10 months ago that Philip Rhodes stepped away as Thomas Heyward Academy’s athletic director, looking forward to a slower pace and more time on his boat after 28 years as a coach and educator.

Perhaps he just needed a breather. Rhodes will be back on the sideline next fall, lending a veteran hand to new John Paul II football coach Kevin Wald as the school moves into 11-man football.

“I missed it,” Rhodes said Thursday. “When I stepped away, I was ready to step back and work part-time. But I like to work with kids, so I’m going to get back into it.”

Rhodes also will teach a couple of classes, with school officials working to create a schedule that lets him teach afternoons before heading to football practice. His role on the staff has yet to be worked out.

“He’s definitely a fit,” said Matt Dakolios, John Paul II’s athletic director. “It’s great to see someone with his level of expertise and knowledge just say, ‘How can I help?’ He has a ton of energy and a ton of positivity around him.”

Rhodes, 67, had hinted even when he left Thomas Heyward last May that he might still want to keep his hand in coaching. He coached varsity basketball — boys and girls — for nearly a quarter-century and was a longtime football assistant.

“I’d been thinking about it,” Rhodes said, “and lo and behold, Kevin Wald called and asked if I wanted to get back into it.”

Wald was hired in January after four seasons at Hilton Head Prep, where he guided the Dolphins to consecutive eight-win seasons for just the second time in school history. John Paul II played 8-man football last year, going 1-8, but the school’s growth mandates that it make the move to 11-man in 2016.

“The opportunity to come in (for) the first year of 11-man football and building up that team to move forward is appealing,” Rhodes said. “The potential for growth at John Paul is good. It’s just a good situation. I’m really interested in helping the program grow and helping Kevin out.”

There’s a possibility, too, that the relationship could grow to include basketball.

“We’ve had that discussion, yeah,” Rhodes said. “With my other situation — this is part-time — I’ve just got to see where my time’s going to be.”

Rhodes also works part-time out of his Ridgeland home, formulating estimates for a flooring company in Atlanta. He’ll continue to do that in the mornings before coming to John Paul II in his afternoons.

“We know he has other aspects of his life,” Dakolios said. “But we’re certainly not going to turn down the help if he’s willing to do more.”

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 6:57 AM with the headline "Former Thomas Heyward AD heads back to the sidelines."