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5/2/2008 - BASEBALL
UNF's Rhodes inducted into ABCA Hall of Fame - UNFOspreys.com
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Courtesy UNFOspreys.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In nearly 40 years as a college coach, Dusty Rhodes has taught countless numbers of student-athletes how to win and get the job done.
And now the coach who put UNF on the national radar as a baseball power will be immortalized with arguably the greatest honor a college baseball coach can receive. The American Baseball Coaches Association has chosen Rhodes as a 2009 Hall of Fame inductee. The induction ceremony will take place during the 2009 ABCA Convention in San Diego on Jan. 3.
"I've been part of the ABCA for 40 years, and the fact that organization is not only honoring me but also this university is something I didn't expect," Rhodes said. "I've been able to speak at the convention, and there are over 5,000 members that are college and high school coaches all over the country. Because of the ABCA and the University of North Florida, I've been able to coach on Olympic teams and coach for the USA team."
In 28 seasons as a collegiate head coach at North Florida and Palm Beach Junior College, Rhodes has compiled a 1,130-481 record. He has guided UNF to 16 postseason appearances, including five World Series appearances, four district championships while in NAIA and six conference championships in NCAA Division II. He has also coached players to 24 All-America selections, 64 all-conference selections and 49 all-region selections.
"I've been lucky because I started out as a junior college coach, then to the NAIA, then to Division II and now we're Division I, so I've met coaches from all over the country at all levels," he said. "It's really meant a lot to me. I appreciate anybody that has ever had anything to do with this honor."
Perhaps more important than the stellar record is the countless number of former players he has inspired to become either coaches or administrators in baseball.
"I already knew I wanted to coach, but once I learned his system, I wanted to apply it to the way I coach," said former player Gil Morales, who is the head coach at Eagles View Academy in Jacksonville. "Things that are normal at UNF are unique to a lot of other people. He's always able to get the best out of players that may not be the most talented, and he knows how to win with that system."
Rhodes has been named his conference's coach of the year eight times as well as earning his region's coach of the year award three times. His 827 victories are the most by any UNF head coach and ranks 12th all-time among Division II coaches with a .694 winning percentage. Under Rhodes, the Ospreys have been ranked No. 1 seven times - three times in NAIA and four times in NCAA Division II.
Rhodes built the UNF program from the ground floor, raising funds to build UNF's on-campus facility, Harmon Stadium. In 1988, Rhodes' and the Jacksonville community's dream came true with UNF's first year of competition.
