Penn State Basketball Coach Defends His Job After Blowout Loss

Mike Rhoades says he has 4 years left on his contract and plans to "coach my butt off" despite the team's struggles.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Penn State men's basketball coach Mike Rhoades defended his job after a 94-62 loss to Ohio State, saying he has 4 years left on his contract and plans to "coach my butt off" despite the team's poor performance this season. The Nittany Lions are in last place in the Big Ten with a 3-16 conference record.

Why it matters

Rhoades is in the third season of a 7-year contract, and with a $9 million buyout, Penn State faces a difficult decision on whether to retain him as head coach. The team's struggles this season have raised questions about Rhoades' ability to turn the program around.

The details

Penn State is having one of its worst Big Ten seasons in program history, carrying a 3-16 conference record into the final regular-season game. The Nittany Lions have not won consecutive conference games this season and went 0-8 in January. They have tied the program record for most Big Ten losses. Rhoades acknowledged the team's lack of maturity and inability to respond to adversity as key factors in the struggles.

  • Penn State lost to Ohio State 94-62 on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.
  • The Nittany Lions' regular-season finale is on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at Rutgers.

The players

Mike Rhoades

The head coach of the Penn State men's basketball team, who is in the third season of a 7-year contract.

Kayden Mingo

The Nittany Lions' top player, a freshman point guard who did not play against Ohio State due to injury.

Josh Reed

A senior forward who was recognized during Penn State's Senior Night ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“My last game? No. I've got four years left on my contract, so, do you think it's going to be my last game? I'm going to coach my butt off, go as hard as I can. Wake up tomorrow, work hard, work harder than I ever have and just keep going and keep coaching.”

— Mike Rhoades, Head Coach (Lions247)

“The No. 1 thing is maturity. The biggest thing I told the guys is, there's adversity in the game. Some guys are better than other at it that, when you have personal adversity or team adversity, you have to respond to that adversity the right way. And we just haven't done that enough, and it snowballed today against us.”

— Mike Rhoades, Head Coach (Lions247)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.