Virginia Commonwealth Head Basketball Coach Mike Rhoades met with Penn State officials Sunday about the Nittany Lion’s head basketball coach job, according to national college basketball reporter Jeff Goodman of Stadium.

The position became open when Micah Shrewsberry left to accept the job of head coach at Notre Dame.

PennLive’s Dave Jones reported this weekend that Rhoades’ agent had been contacted by Penn State:

“The VCU coach is fresh off a 27-8 season, a #12-seed in the tournament as runaway Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament champions and a first-round exit to a tough #5-seed Saint Mary’s team,” Jones wrote. “If interviewed, I believe Rhoades would certainly be amenable to any reasonable offer.”

Rhoades’ contract at VCU pays him about $1.7 million annually, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, but this is the year it would traditionally come up for renewal.

Jones said that based on discussions he had Saturday, PSU athletic director Pat Kraft could offer a salary in the $4 million range to whoever is the next head coach.

PennLive’s Jones had this to say about Rhoades in a column published Thursday:

“In many ways, looks like the right guy at the right time. Has gradually worked his way up through assistant work in minors (Randolph-Macon), then majors (VCU under Shaka Smart), then as a mid-major head coach (Rice) and for the past six seasons as top man at VCU,” Jones wrote. “Has taken Rams to NCAAs three times, has unfortunately lost all three, including ugly 2023 first-round exit to burlier #5-seed Saint Mary’s.”

Jones also noted that Rhoades knows central Pennsylvania: he grew up the son of a state Senator and played at Lebanon Valley College.

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