Rhonda Rompola announces retirement at end of season

[CalallenStang]

Congratulations to Rhonda on a great career. In recent seasons results have slipped a bit but Rhonda did give us some good years. It seems like a good time for both Rhonda and SMU to move on

[CA Mustang]

Non revenue sports will phase out established coaches for cheaper alternatives.

How will that help non-revenue sports? Do you want to downgrade them to club teams?

[BUS]

Thank you to Rhonda for everything she has done. I used to watch her play Bball in deadman against the football guys in 82-83 ish period. She would shut them down in every position except center. Quite mobile and strong.

After 25 plus years of working - Go see the world and relax with Mike. Maybe consult for some extra cash.

Again, Thank you for being a Mustang and for YEARS of dedication and hard work. Hugs!
GSS

[bubba pony]

Rhonda grew up by Exit 9 (it's a Jersey thing). a tough girl. Enjoy your retirement and thanks for the loyalty.

[PonyTime]

Non revenue sports will phase out established coaches for cheaper alternatives.

How will that help non-revenue sports? Do you want to downgrade them to club teams?

SMU still has some serious cash flow issues and financial problems - even post Bain project - particularly in the Athletic Dept. Eventually you have to start making choices, none of which are good. I think that is what is happening now.

Not sure if Rhonda retiring is part of that or not. I'm just glad that they appear to be moving forward on the Swim complex.

[CA Mustang]

Non revenue sports will phase out established coaches for cheaper alternatives.

How will that help non-revenue sports? Do you want to downgrade them to club teams?

SMU still has some serious cash flow issues and financial problems - even post Bain project - particularly in the Athletic Dept. Eventually you have to start making choices, none of which are good. I think that is what is happening now.

Not sure if Rhonda retiring is part of that or not. I'm just glad that they appear to be moving forward on the Swim complex.

Isn't SMU already at the minimum number of varsity sports for a D-1 school? If so, dropping more isn't the answer. Saving a few bucks by going cheap on coaches won't make a difference either.

[mtrout]

SMU is at minimum # of sports. Thankfully equestrian didn't get removed from the list as an official NCAA sport (though it should have per the original "rules"). Either way, minimum # of sports rule will probably go away or decrease in the near future but that's besides the point.

About Bain project, cost savings...need to cut $30mil or whatever. Lay off as many admin or staffers as possible. Then decrease coaching costs. Golf coach gives someone a hat, gets fired...promote the assistant to head coach, save ~50k. Soccer coach steps down, promote from within, save ~50k. Track coach retires, promote from within, save ~50k. Going with this trend, Rhonda retires, promote from within, save ~50k. Every little bit counts.

It's all about saving a few bucks right now. Our conference isn't exactly swimming in money and I think conference TV deals have plateaued or peaked considering the number of cord cutters, ESPN layoffs, and millennials wanting all media for free. Thank God our alumni are insanely generous keeping us in the mix with facilities and coaching salary "funds".

[SoCal_Pony]

Not to pi$$ on this parade, but exactly how many NCAA tourney wins over her 25-year coaching career here?

[HorsePower]

Great Mustang. God bless and thank you, Rhonda.

[MustangStealth]

3

[mrydel]

Not to pi$$ on this parade, but exactly how many NCAA tourney wins over her 25-year coaching career here?

More than Larry Brown, Doh, Tubbs combined.

[ebrooks11]

And 3 less than UCONN won last year.

[SoCal_Pony]

Not to pi$$ on this parade, but exactly how many NCAA tourney wins over her 25-year coaching career here?

More than Larry Brown, Doh, Tubbs combined.

Why stop there? Include Shumate & Dement on your list as well.

People can celebrate RR all they want, fine by me. I see it differently.

Some 55 years of combined MBB / WBB and all we have to show for it is a Kato win against ND + 3 wins in WBB (can someone confirm this #), but not even one single 2nd round tourney appearance?

That's nothing I want to celebrate.

Especially given SMU's potential, finally realized by LB.

[mrydel]

Why such hate for a long tenured coach? She stayed, did her job, and now is leaving. Had she not been performing as the athletic directors during her time wanted, they should have fired her. I doubt she purposely tried to keep us from getting into the tournament, so I am going to assume she did her best. Now we try to find someone better.

Little Rock had a coach everyone loved. He did well, not great, and had been here several years. He was fired last year and many got upset. New coach comes in and they currently have the best overall record in Division 1. Maybe we can do the same. But the people here still like and respect what the previous coach did. I like and respect what Rhonda did. Now let's get someone to do better.

[skyscraper]

WTF with the vitriol for RR.
She operated with pennies on the dollar and was much more successful than the men's program until LB showed up.
Say thank you, wish her the best in retirement and then let's see who can start making us competitive in WBB.