Dickson, Rhodes Will Meet For Evaluation

Washington State athletic director Rick Dickson said he plans to meet with Harold Rhodes within the next week to evaluate the women’s basketball team’s season and discuss Rhodes’ future as head coach.

Rhodes, the Cougars’ coach for 17 seasons, signed a one-year contract extension on March 16, 1998.

“It will follow on the same lines as what I said about the men (basketball team). At the end of the season, which is upon us, we will evaluate if the expectations were met and I will make a determination on short order,” said Dickson, who attended Saturday afternoon’s final game which WSU lost to Washington 72-70.

Rhodes’ team finished 11-16 and eighth (5-13) in the Pac-10 Conference after finishing tied for seventh last year. Like many of the past years, the Cougars were hit hard with injuries, most notably sophomore forward Alke Dietel. The 6-foot-4 German suffered a seasonending knee injury in January. She was leading the team in rebounding (7.3) and second in scoring (17.0).

“The win-loss record was disappointing this year,” Rhodes said after Saturday’s game. “But I’m pleased with the growth of the kids and how well they improved.”

In 17 years at WSU, Rhodes has compiled a 194-271 record. His team’s only NCAA Tournament appearance was in 1990-91, when the Cougars lost in the first round.