In a candid conversation, Head Coach Rich Duncan shares his journey from building a startup football program at Berry College to leading the football team here in Memphis at Rhodes College. Here, Coach Duncan reflects on his experiences and challenges as well as his vision for the program's future.
You were a part of a startup Division III football program before coming to Rhodes. What was that experience like?
It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my coaching career. Building a program from the ground up was a labor of love. We faced adversity, but it forged strong bonds among the players and coaches.
What motivated you to take on the challenge of building a new program?
It wasn't something I sought out initially. A good friend got the head coaching job and I decided to join him. I didn't know what to expect, but I stayed for ten years. It was a lot of work but the relationships and experiences were priceless.
How did you decide to come to Rhodes?
Matt Dean was the head coach when the football team started here. He reached out and asked me if I was interested, and, you know, it just worked out. I was 52 or 53 at the time; if I was going to take another head coaching job, it was now.
I always had my eye on Rhodes. I always thought this was a great place. I went to a small school in West Virginia. At Rhodes, I knew it was similar to my college academic experience. I grew up in a small Appalachian town, but I've lived in Boston, New York and Chicago and love living in more urban areas.
When I interviewed here, I told them I'm not a Ferrari. I'm a Chevy three-quarter-ton pickup truck. I'm just going to come and grind every day. It turns out that was what our program needed. With all of my heart, I love it here.
Transitioning from Berry College to Rhodes, what were your goals?
Thanks to the great people at Rhodes, the transition was smooth. My immediate goals were to get to know the players and build a coaching staff. We had a short time to prepare for the season, but the support and dedication of everyone involved made it possible. And I knew there would be some work ahead of me. I knew it wasn't turnkey. I was looking for a challenge.
Describe your first season at Rhodes.
It was a fun year because our players got to experience some success they hadn't seen before. They weren't really competitive in the previous fall season or during COVID. There was some growth, for sure. For the kids who were seniors when I took over, it was a leap of faith for them because there really wasn't a long-term benefit for them. They knew that my role was to try and stabilize this program and see how competitive we can be. They were a great group of kids - I'm still really close with them now.
From a wins-and-losses perspective, that first season's record is not what anybody is hoping for as an athlete. But, you know, we won three games and that was more than they won in a couple of years, so that was a big deal. And then, in year two, we were five and five. Then last year, we were six and four and lost two games in the last play of the game. We've had a shot at winning eight. We've made some progress.
What has stood out to you as a coach at Rhodes?
From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the number of really good people and kids that are here. The players are thirsty and they genuinely care. They were hungry to be led. I don't think that's different. People always ask about the difference between young people today and when I played college football in the 1980s. I don't think kids are any different in 2024 than they were then. They want discipline, they want accountability, they want structure. They want to know the expectations so they can meet them. I think the only real difference is in their learning styles and methods. The world has become much faster-paced, and information comes at a much faster pace in much smaller doses, so you have to adjust how you teach and present it in a modern way.
Rhodes is a beautiful place, but it's never about the buildings; it's always about the people. It's always the folks you're around who make a place special for you.
What is different about coaching at Rhodes versus your previous coaching experiences?
A significant difference is most of my recruiting and coaching career has been on campuses where the students were from a three-hour radius. My teams were more regional and localized, whereas Rhodes is more national. Putting a locker room together with guys from all over the place comes with different challenges. We've got a player from Hawaii on our team; we've got a player from Massachusetts. You have to get to know one another a little differently and be more intentional in finding ways to get your locker room to connect.
If you walked into any athletics locker room and looked at how people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic backgrounds, geographic backgrounds can go into a locker room and become a team - it's incredible to be a part of. That's one of the beauties of Memphis. When I look at the Mississippi River, all the culture here, and the years of history, I feel connected to the city and the variety of people who live here and choose Rhodes.
Outside of coaching, how has living in Memphis been for you?
I love Memphis. It's my kind of town: full of hustle, grind and great food. I enjoy the live music and dining scene. It's tough not to like Memphis if you like those two things. My rooftop and condo overlook the pyramid and I love to ride the trolley.
People are surprised by Memphis. I think everybody has an idea of what Memphis is, whether they want to come to Graceland, Sun Studios or Beale Street. Then, all of a sudden, you get here and find out, wow, there's so much more than whatever originally brought you here. It's just my kind of city.
Looking toward the future, what are your goals for the program and the team?
Ultimately, I want every player to have the opportunity to win a conference championship and play in the national playoffs. I think that experience is the pinnacle for a Division III athlete.
I want my players to graduate and have success in their careers. I want to get 'em to where they're conference champions, they've played in the NCAA playoffs and they've earned a world-class education. We've done a pretty good job on the academic side. When I came into the program, I think we'd had 67 Academic All-Conference players that year.
And there's a huge balance, right? Competitive athletes want to be great in all areas of life - their personal life, their academic life and their athletic life. People who are high achievers seek other high achievers. Our kids were hungry and thirsty for leadership, they were really seeking excellence in football. They felt like they had excellence at Rhodes in many other areas, but they just weren't able to achieve it on the football field. We have the resources in place to achieve these goals and I'm excited about the future of Rhodes College football.
Coach Duncan's journey is a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance and building solid relationships. As he continues to lead the Rhodes football program, his dedication to excellence and to his players - both on and off the field - will leave a lasting impact on campus and in the River City.
Header: "With all of my heart, I love it here."
"From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the number of really good people and kids here. The players are thirsty and they genuinely care... Rhodes is a beautiful place, but it's never about the buildings; it's always about the people. It's always the folks you're around who make a place special for you." - Coach Duncan