Two Atlantic 10 teams find new coaches

UMass goes with coach with Cincinnati connection; VCU makes quick hire to replace Will Wade
Pat Kelsey coaches against Dayton at UD Arena with Winthrop in 2016.

Credit: David Jablonski - Staff Writer

Credit: David Jablonski - Staff Writer

Pat Kelsey coaches against Dayton at UD Arena with Winthrop in 2016.

Two Atlantic 10 basketball teams found new coaches Tuesday, according to reports.

Massachusetts will hire Winthrop head coach Pat Kelsey, a Cincinnati native who graduated from Elder High School and played at Xavier.

Virginia Commonwealth will hire Rice head coach Mike Rhoades, a former VCU assistant. The news broke less than 24 hours after Will Wade left VCU after two seasons for LSU.

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Kelsey, 41, has coached against the Dayton Flyers at UD Arena twice in recent seasons, losing 83-67 on Dec. 3, 2016, and 81-47 on Jan. 1, 2014.

Rhoades, 44, was a Division III coach at Randolph-Macon (1999-2009). He coached under Shaka Smart at VCU from 2009-14 and was on the staff when the Rams made the Final Four in 2011. He was 47-52 in three seasons at Rice.

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