How did Penn State and VCU fans react to the news of Mike Rhoades coming to Happy Valley?

Last night, it was reported that the Penn State Nittany Lions have a new head basketball coach: Mike Rhoades. Rhoades — who has spent the past six seasons with the VCU Rams — is walking into a mess with Penn State basketball, though on the bright side, he has a blank canvas to create a program in his own image. Here are how PSU and VCU fans reacted to the news of the Mike Rhoades hire.

Penn State basketball fans react to PSU hiring Mike Rhoades

The initial report that the Nittany Lions had hired Mike Rhoades came from hall of fame basketball writer Dick Weiss, who broke the news late last night.

it’s done. Mike Rhoades to Penn State. Nice guy from central Pennsylvania whose VCU team played fun style, made tournament. Will be starting from scratch in the B1G. Rooting for him.

— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) March 29, 2023

Following Weiss’s report, Penn State basketball fans seemed to rejoice, though some fans were unimpressed. Here is how many Penn Staters took the news:

It should be easy for Mike Rhoades to bring back Mahaffey from the portal. Shrews didn’t appreciate his gritty game (probably not pretty enough) and should have played him more. Mahaffey is a glue guy who brings lots of energy and Penn State will need him.

— Aaron Yorke (@AaronPYorke) March 29, 2023

Homerun hire!

— fred snerd (@hail2snerd) March 29, 2023

Would’ve liked to have a shot at dusty may but Rhoades is a good hire and if we waiting longer we likely would’ve missed out on him, lost fisher, had more players hit the portal, just to have a very very small chance at may

— Evan Gregoire (@Egreggy09) March 29, 2023

This AD sucks.

— PGKEsq (@PGKEsq) March 29, 2023

NIT is the ceiling. Let’s go!!!

— Smart T. Jones (@exhaustedBS) March 29, 2023

Hope you all love watching that Rutgers sledgehammer style, because Rhoades teams are good to great on D but can’t score.
Severely caps the ceiling of the program. Tournament rubs don’t happen without offense.

— Jay (@JayJayallday31) March 29, 2023

Made all those tourneys at VCU but never won a tourney game. Fun style for sure but can he get that same style going at PSU? Can he win a tourney game finally?

— WIDawgs ? ? (@DawgsCheese) March 29, 2023

Anyone who has ever met Mike would be inclined to root for him, Hoops. Class guy.

— Gordie Jones (@gordonwjones) March 29, 2023

Perhaps he’ll be the one PSU men’s basketball coach who doesn’t see the job as a stepping stone. ?

— VPaterno (@VPaterno19) March 29, 2023

Will be interesting to see the depleted roster come together. The two 4-star VCU recruits from 2022 would be a nice start. https://t.co/39UuSBRccD

— Colby Welshans (@CJ_Dubya) March 29, 2023

Mike Rhoades from Mahanoy City…

PLAY THE SONG! https://t.co/skWxb4p7EG pic.twitter.com/9JkKJqbHge

— Derek Shuman (@DerekShuman_) March 29, 2023

meh https://t.co/FdIJsS2KOa

— Dani (@TheDanimatrix) March 29, 2023

Looking forward to doing this again in 2026 when he leaves for Texas Tech following an NIT Final Four berth.#WeAre #meh https://t.co/kGce8PUA6Q

— Kevin Horne (@KevinHornePSU) March 29, 2023

All Rhoades lead home (and hopefully to a few NCAA Tournaments)

— PSU Everything (@PSU_Strong) March 29, 2023

What do VCU fans have to say about Rhoades leaving their program?

While many Nittany Lion fans had mixed feelings, the general feeling in the air regarding the Mike Rhoades hire is very positive — he is a solid, proven head coach and plays a style of basketball that should work well in the Big Ten. On the other hand, VCU fans did not seem too happy about the news that Mike Rhoades is leaving Richmond.

Don’t even care that Mike Rhodes is leaving VCU. It’s the players that go and the “reset” that sucks. But remembering Rhodes say this was his forever job is funny. ?

— klaman (@mattklaman) March 29, 2023

Its ok @VCURamNation @VCU_Hoops – mike rhodes did you like a typical carpetbagging yankee from up north. Left you high and dry. Lesson in leadership. Lee never left VA. He held his head high. Was loved and celebrated.

— The Notorious Mike Dickinson (@MikeD4RVA) March 29, 2023

The timeline of Mike Rhodes the last 6 months is fascinating:

Fans were calling for his head in December. He gets the team to win the weakest A-10 in 15 years, and immediately bolts. One has to think, if VCU didn’t cut down the nets in Brooklyn, Mike Rhodes is still coach today.

— Daniel Frank (@n1a2v3y4) March 29, 2023

As a lifelong VCU fan I hope coach mike Rhodes stays for a while

— James Knight (@JamesKnight221) March 27, 2023

The good news for Penn State in all of this: if VCU fans are mad about Rhoades leaving their program, that usually means he is a hell of a basketball coach, and could build something special with the Nittany Lions.

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