Eric Rhodes enters his fourth season with the Chowan football program as an assistant Coach for Defensive Backs.
Rhodes led the defensive back unit to the third best interception mark in the CIAA in 2018. Rhodes coached George Parker to the program's first-ever All-CIAA First Team selection as a defensive back. Parker posted the second most interceptions (5) in the CIAA. Connor O’Brien and Jamal Hampton earned CIAA All-Rookie Defense selections.
Prior to coming to Chowan, Rhodes served as a Defensive Graduate Assistant for Defensive Backs at Grambling State University. During his time at Grambling, Rhodes helped the Tigers to a 2016 SWAC Conference Championship. Grambling State received a national ranking in the FCS along with being ranked Top-10 nationally in scoring defense and total defense in the FCS.
Rhodes helped GSU to win the 2016 Air Force Reserves Celebration Bowl Championship (HBCU National Championship). Rhodes prepared and organized the team’s defensive playbook, assisted in breaking down weekly film, and assisted Strength coach with speed and weight-training among his other duties.
Before his stint at GSU, Rhodes spent two seasons at Louisville Butler Traditional High School in Louisville, Kentucky as the Assistant Varsity Coach. Rhodes helped coach the Defensive Secondary, Running Backs, and Special teams.
Rhodes competed as a football student-athlete at Kentucky Wesleyan College. He played defensive back for the Panthers. He was named All-Great Lakes Football Conference Honorable Mention during his junior and senior seasons (2010, 2011).  He was also a part of the Football Leadership Council for the Panthers.
The Louisville, Ky. native graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Fitness Management and a minor in Business Administration. Rhodes would receive his Master’s degree from Grambling State in 2016 in Sports Administration.
Rhodes resides in the Murfreesboro area with wife, Taja, and step-son, Zhyaire.Â
