Mosley soccer coach Rhodes leaving post after 4 seasons

Jon Rhodes can’t wait any longer.

The Mosley girls soccer coach already postponed a move to the state of Washington once to lead the Lady Dolphins through this past season, which ended Friday with a loss in the FHSAA Class 5A state semifinals.

As much as he wants to avenge their 1-0 defeat to Seminole with a state championship in 2011, the 35-year-old Englishman said it’s time for him to end a historic run at the Lynn Haven school.

Sometime in early May, Rhodes will reunite with his family near Seattle.

“I could’ve gone before and saved myself thousands of dollars in moving fees, but I made a pact with these girls, with the seniors, that I would see their time out,” Rhodes said. “I just felt last year was such a sore wound that I knew we could do better. I knew these girls deserved it.”

Rhodes concluded a career at Mosley that began in 1999 as the junior varsity boys coach and included a stint as an assistant coach to all four teams at the school.

In the past four seasons as the girls varsity coach, Rhodes was 66-10-11 with four county titles, two district championships, a regional title, a Timber Wolf Classic crown and a Final Four appearance.

“Each year we’ve achieved something new,” Rhodes said. “That’s what coaching is all about.”

Mosley Principal Sandy Harrison and Athletic Director Tim Jennings said Friday they have not started the process of replacing Rhodes. Jennings added that Rhodes, however, is always welcome to return.

Rhodes told the team he was leaving during a practice late in the season, senior Kat Vogler said.

She said the team appreciated Rhodes’ commitment.

“That means a lot just because he’s been there since our freshman year and (shows) how he thought about us,” Vogler said. “Going with your family, that’s a big thing. And for him to think about us and him not being selfish, and thinking about how we felt, that meant a lot about all of it.”

Rhodes’ considered moving to be near his estranged wife and two children when they relocated during the last week of September, but said he wanted to repay the Lady Dolphins for what they did for him.

After his mother died two years ago, Rhodes said he lost his passion for coaching. He contemplated leaving soccer altogether and returning to England, but the Lady Dolphins wouldn’t let him abandon the sport he grew up with and the team he was about to coach to uncharted success.

Mosley failed to advance past the district tournament in 2007 and 2008, Rhodes’ first two seasons. In 2009, the first season after Rhodes’ mother died, Mosley finished the regular season undefeated and was upset in the regional semifinals on penalty kicks by Tallahassee Chiles.

That disappointment led to his return this year.

“I’m not upset about one game, I do truly believe that they were good enough to win the state title not just this year but last year, too,” Rhodes said. “I’m content that every year we got better.

“I’ve been living my dreams through other people’s kids. When (his children) moved I knew it was important to be near them and do it as quick as possible.”