Former Liberty University Men’s Basketball forward Kyle Rode is returning to the court this season, only this time as one of the Flames’ new assistant coaches.
Rode graduated from Liberty in 2024, after cementing himself into the Liberty Basketball record books as one of two players in Flames history to rank top 15 in career points, assists and rebounds. He then continued his basketball career playing professionally for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg Eagles based in Germany.
After seven games with the Eagles, Rode signed with the San Antonio Spurs’ G-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs. He played only one season in Austin, racking up minutes in 32 games. Despite being miles away from Lynchburg, Rode never felt disconnected from the community he fostered during his time with the Flames.
“My relationship with coach (McKay), we talked every other day, if not almost every day, even when I was done,” Rode said. “So we were always super connected, and I was super close to my other staff here as well.”
A few familiar faces greet Rode as he rejoins the team. Graduate student guard Kaden Metheny, senior guard Colin Porter, redshirt senior forward Zander Yates, senior forward Zach Cleveland and redshirt junior guard JC Shirer Jr. are all former teammates from Rode’s time playing at Liberty.
“(Porter) and Zach, I had hosted them on their visits to Liberty. I see them not even as little brothers but brothers in general,” Rode said. “Getting to play with them, seeing them grow in their game — I really just am here to serve them and serve the team.”
In a full-circle moment, Rode will now coach his former teammates in their senior season.
“I feel like it would have been hard for them to have somebody they have never met before coach them in their last year together,” Rode said. “So I almost think it is better in a sense, and it has been really cool.”
With the Flames coming off an appearance in the 2024 NCAA Division I March Madness tournament, Rode is focusing on strengthening the team’s defense as they hope to carry this momentum into the upcoming season.
“I have really been locked in to try to help get our defense where it needs to be,” Rode said. “We are just going to keep building habits and just continue to carry on the culture that we have set over the last however many years.”
Due to his many seasons with the Flames, Rode noted that it will be an adjustment to switch gears mentally from playing to coaching.
“That first game, it is going to hit me that I am not playing anymore,” Rode said. “Just being back and the love I have for this place, it is going to be so cool, but not being able to check in the game is going to be weird.”
As he steps into this role of assistant coach, he also steps into his role as a new father. He welcomed a daughter over the summer with his wife, Jessica, whom he met during his time at Liberty. Rode is learning to master the work-life balance from a family first coach like Head Coach Ritchie McKay.
“There is no better coach to work for in the country as far as work-life balance than coach (McKay). He is truly family first, which is so rare in this industry,” Rode said. “There is no better dad coach to learn from than him, and just how he handles his business with his family and also professionally.”
From playing basketball to meeting his wife to now standing on the court in a coaching position, Liberty continues to be home to Rode and his family as they grow.
“It is going to be awesome to see Jess hold our little girl at that first game in Liberty Arena,” Rode said. “From meeting Jess freshman year to being married a few years later, it is going to be another cool moment at Liberty.”
Schlösser is the asst. sports editor for the Liberty Champion.