CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern head baseball coach Marc MacMillan welcomed the addition of Ladd Rhodes to the CSU coaching staff on Thursday afternoon.

Rhodes joins the Charleston Southern staff as an assistant coach prior to the start of the 2021 season. He will oversee the development of the Buccaneers hitters and work primarily with the program's outfielders.

"I want to thank Coach (Scott) Berry at Southern Miss for giving me the okay to speak with Ladd," shared MacMillan. "Coach Rhodes is a rising star, and we are very fortunate to add a coach with this energy, passion, and knowledge to our staff four weeks prior to start of the 2021 season. In addition, he is a relentless recruiter who will assist Coach Izzio and the excellent job to date introducing and committing the top talent in the country to CSU."
 
Rhodes brings collegiate coaching experience from Southern Miss and two stints at Jones College where he worked as the hitting instructor and outfield coach.
 
He served as a volunteer assistant coach for Southern Miss for the 2020 season where he coached the outfielders and coordinated the Eagles' base-running efforts. He also organized all baseball camps and showcases for the program.

During his second run at Jones College, Rhodes served as the hitting, base-running, and outfield coach from 2016-2019. He oversaw the Bobcats' strength and conditioning efforts, designed in-season and offseason works, and accompanied the team during every on-campus workout.

He helped guide the team to a 37-12 record and posted a .326 team batting average, as eight different players hit above .300 during the campaign in his final season at Jones. The 2018 season saw the Bobcats compile a 38-11 mark, while finishing second in the MACJC. Jones had a .324 team batting average. His first team in 2017 collected a 46-4 record, while winning the MACJC regular season title. Jones College posted a team batting average of .370, which led NJCAA Division II that season.

Also that year, former Bobcat and then Golden Eagle, Fred Franklin, earned a Gold Glove in the outfield for the NJCAA Division II level.

During his first time at Jones College as a coach, Rhodes worked as a graduate assistant on the 2014 coaching staff on a Bobcat squad that tied the school record for wins, won the MACJC South Division, the MACJC tournament, and hosted the Region 23 Tournament. Rhodes' influence on the 2014 offense was enough to see them to a .327 team batting average, 112 doubles, and 24 home runs.  The 2014 squad had seven players with 30-plus RBI.

Rhodes holds the unique distinction of capturing championships as both a player and a coach. He originally came to Jones College in 2010 as an outfielder, after graduating from Gulfport High School. 

During his time in a Bobcat uniform, the team enjoyed great success, capturing two South Division titles, a state championship, and the school's first ever appearance in the NJCAA D2 World Series. The 2011 team set a school record for wins and finished national runner-up. 

He earned second team All-MACJC selection in 2011, batting .345 with 20 stolen bases. That successful stint led to two more outstanding seasons at Southeastern Louisiana, where he earned All-Southland Conference Tournament honors in both 2012 and 2013.

The Bucs will release the 2021 spring baseball season in the coming days.