TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State University Director of Athletics John Sisemore announced today the hiring of Rachel Rhode as the fourth head coach in NSU softball history.

"We are thrilled to have Coach Rhode as our next softball coach at Northeastern," said Sisemore.  Replacing Coach [Clay] Davis is a hard task, especially given the timing of his departure.  I knew the search during this time would be difficult as replacing a long-time hard-working coach who understood the scope of NSU athletics would be a monumental task.

We needed to find someone who knows how to work long hours with below average monetary support to lead a softball program embedded in a rich highly competitive softball area as Coach Davis has done.  There were several NCAA Division I applicants with a wide range of experience but I knew this job may be better suited for a hungry up-and-coming individual with various levels of experience.  After visiting with Coach Rhode and talking with one of her previous coaches I knew she was a viable candidate with a blue-collar work ethic. This is what NSU needs and must have to be successful.  Coach [Nic] Nelson, one of her former coaches is considered one of the hardest working, toughest self-driven coaches in the industry said she was the kind of person who was first to show and last to leave and could survive the grueling expectations of getting the job done no matter what it takes. With Division I pitching experience and experience coaching at the Division II level Rachel has the tools needed to help lead our program to high-level results in the tough MIAA."

Rhode comes to NSU after spending the previous two seasons and this fall at Truman State where she was the program's assistant coach. 
 
"I am super excited to be named head coach at Northeastern State University softball program," said Rhode.  We have a large group of upperclassmen who had success last year on the field and I am excited to see how they will grow and play this year.  I want to thank Director of Athletics John Sisemore for entrusting me with this opportunity to lead these young women.

My goals are to continue to produce a competitive program and propel our team through the MIAA."

Prior to her arrival at Truman State, the Stillwater, Minn. native coached in her home state for two seasons at Bemidji State as an assistant coach.  Rhode and Bemidji State were off to a successful start to the 2020 season before the remainder of the campaign was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  At the time of the season shutdown, Bemidji State had players ranked second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in RBI and runs scored. 

Rhode started her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Union College (Tenn.).   She helped the Bulldogs finish the 2019 season with a 31-20 record overall, just the third time in program history the team eclipsed the 30-win mark. With a focus on pitchers, Rhode helped Union rank fourth in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in team strikeouts. Union's pitchers garnered one All-AAC Second Team honor along with one AAC Champions of Character Team and two AAC Player of the Week recognitions during the 2019 season.

As a member of the Bulldogs roster, Rhode led the team with a 2.08 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 2017. She was named the 2017 AAC Pitcher of the Year after being selected to the All-AAC First Team. Rhode earned AAC Pitcher of the Week once and finished the season ranked 30th in the NAIA for total innings pitched with 181.1.

Before joining Union in 2017, Rhode pitched one season at NCAA Division I program University of Tennessee-Martin in 2016 and threw two seasons at NJCAA Division I program Lake Land Junior College from 2014-15.

Rhode earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice with minors in sociology and psychology in 2018 from Union.