Rachel Rhode returns for her second season as the head women's softball coach in 2027. She was named the head coach of the program in June of 2025.
Before UIU, Rhode was the head coach at Northeastern State University (Okla.), where the program collected 25 wins in the two-year span. During her tenure, freshman Maddie Messenger earned All-MIAA honors, becoming the program's first true freshman to receive that recognition since 2021.
Prior to her time at NSU, Rhode was an assistant coach at Truman State (Mo.) and Bemidji State (Minn.).
She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Union College (Tenn.), where she helped guide the Bulldogs to a 31-win season in 2019, just the fourth time in program history to eclipse the 30-win mark. The team also notched a top-four finish in strikeouts in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).
As a student-athlete at Union, Rhode led the team on the mound with a 2.08 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 2017. She was named the 2017 AAC Pitcher of the Year after being selected to the All-AAC First Team.
A native of Stillwater, Minnesota, Rhode earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice with minors in sociology and psychology from Union College.
Rachel Rhode: Year-by-Year at Upper Iowa (6-44, 1-25 GLVC, one season)
| 2026 |
6-44 (1-25 GLVC) |
All-GLVC Second Team - Dani Laughlin |
