Herb Hilgeman, who recently completed his 34th year as Rhodes' men's basketball coach, announced he will retire from his position at Rhodes effective May 15. He retires with a career mark of 473-360. Hilgeman arrived to Rhodes in 1976 taking over a struggling Lynx program.
He quickly shaped Rhodes into a nationally recognized program posting a 16-9 record in his third year and a 22-6 record in his fourth year, earning the Lynx their first-ever invitation to the Division III NCAA Tournament. In Hilgeman’s fifth year Rhodes returned to the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight finishing the 1981-82 season with a 23-3 record.
Current Memphis University School assistant basketball coach Matt Bakke, the point guard on those Lynx teams, had this to say about his coach. "It’s been an honor and a privilege to be associated with Herb Hilgeman. He brought out the best in me as a player.
Herb’s love of basketball, work ethic and caring attitude toward his players inspired me to become a coach. I will forever treasure his leadership, wisdom, and most of all, our friendship.”
Another great run of success began when area high school stars Mike Gonda and brothers Thomas and Albert Johnson arrived to Rhodes for the 1990-91 season. During Gonda and the Johnson’s four year career the Lynx posted a 78-23 mark, won two College Athletic Conference titles, and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament in 1992-93. The 1991-92 team won 20 consecutive games, which was the longest NCAA Division III winning streak in the nation that year. Rhodes produced several other outstanding teams in the '90s and the Lynx ranked in the top twenty in the nation in winning percentage during this period.
Hilgeman became the winningest coach in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference history when the Lynx defeated Principia on Nov. 16, 2009 earning Hilgeman his 464th victory at Rhodes.
"Herb Hilgeman is a person of great character and he’s the consummate professional. His integrity, ethics and morals are impeccable. Coach Hilgeman has been a friend and mentor to hundreds of Rhodes student-athletes and staff who've had the good fortune to interact with him during his tenure at Rhodes," said Mike Clary, Rhodes athletic director. “We are grateful for his service to Rhodes and we wish him well.”