Paul Rhoads - Senior Defensive Analyst - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Paul Rhoads

Title:
Senior Defensive Analyst

Paul Rhoads was named Mississippi State’s Senior Defensive Analyst on December 30, 2024.

Rhoads is a well-respected veteran defensive coach with more than 30 years of experience as a head coach, defensive coordinator and position coach, including multiple stops inside the SEC. He's developed numerous All-Conference performers and NFL Draft picks along the way, most notably Darrelle Revis – an NFL Hall of Fame cornerback, four-time All-Pro selection and the 2009 AFC Defensive Player of the Year. Revis was the 14th overall pick by the New York Jets in 2007 after playing for Rhoads when he was the defensive coordinator at Pitt.

Rhoads boasts extensive experience as a head coach at Iowa State (2009-15) and a defensive coordinator at Pitt (2000-07), Arkansas (2017), Auburn (2008) and Arizona (2020). He's also been a position coach at a number of stops, including Boston College (2023), UCLA (2018-19), Arkansas (2016) and Iowa State (1995-99). Rhoads spent the fall of 2022 as the defensive coordinator at Gulf Shores High School in Alabama, where he helped Gulf Shores to an 11-2 season, while earning Alabama 5A Assistant Coach of the Year. He was an analyst on Ohio State head coach Ryan Day's staff in 2021.

Rhoads has coordinated highly successful defenses that have ranked inside the Top 20 nationally in passing defense five times, inside the Top 15 nationally in both total defense and yards per play allowed three times and inside the Top 15 nationally in scoring defense twice.

Rhoads led Iowa State to three bowl game appearances during his head coaching tenure. He recorded four wins over ranked opponents, including three on the road – half of the school's all-time road victories over ranked teams at the time.

Taking over a program that had gone a combined 8-27 the previous three seasons, Rhoads' success in his first season at Iowa State was underscored by his place as the first Cyclone football coach to win seven games in his initial campaign since 1907 and the first ISU coach since 1931 to post a winning record in his initial season. His first season as head coach was highlighted by the program's first win at Nebraska in 32 years and a victory over Minnesota in the Insight Bowl. In addition, the Cyclones registered six Big 12 road victories under Rhoads. Prior to his arrival, the Cyclones had won just nine conference road games in the previous 17 seasons.