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Randolph-Macon College

Randolph-Macon Athletics
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Randolph-Macon Men's Basketball History

Overview

  • One of Virginia’s most successful collegiate basketball programs.

  • 1,255+ total wins – 4th in state behind:

    • University of Virginia

    • Virginia Tech

    • Virginia Union

  • Multiple Final Four runs, conference titles, NCAA Tournament appearances and a National Championship.

  • Consistent tradition of 20+ win seasons and national rankings.

Paul Webb Era (1956-1975)

  • Coached at Randolph-Macon for 19 years.

  • Career victories: 511 total, including 315 at Randolph-Macon.

  • Retired with more wins than any other coach in Virginia collegiate history.

Hal Nunnally Era (1975–1999)

  • Served as assistant under Webb for 3 years before becoming head coach in the 1975-76 season.

  • Achievements:

    • 24 seasons as head coach.

    • 10 seasons with 20+ wins.

    • Led team to NCAA Division II Championship game in 1976–77 (finished second).

    • 5 conference championships:

      • 3 Mason-Dixon Athletic Conference titles.

      • 2 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) titles (1989-90, 1990-91).

    • Multiple regular season and tournament championships.

    • NCAA regional tournament appearances: 1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1997-98.

Mike Rhoades Era (1999–2009)

  • Record: 197-76 (.726 winning percentage) over 10 years.

  • Six 20+ win seasons in final 7 years.

  • Achievements:

    • 4 NCAA Tournament appearances.

    • 2003 ODAC Championship.

    • ODAC Coach of the Year (3 times).

    • 2002–03 season highlights:

      • Ranked No. 1 nationally for several weeks.

      • Won ODAC Tournament.

      • Advanced to NCAA Division III “Sweet Sixteen.”

      • Named ODAC Coach of the Year, NABC South District Coach of the Year, VaSID State Coach of the Year, and Richmond Times-Dispatch State Coach of the Year.

      • Set program record for wins in a season: 28-2.

    • January 25, 2003: Program reached 1,200th win.

  • Upon departure, RMC ranked 4th in Virginia for all-time wins, behind UVA, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Union.

Nathan Davis Era (2009–2015)

  • Returned to alma mater in April 2009.

  • Record: 93 wins in 4 seasons.

  • Achievements:

    • 2 ODAC Championships.

    • 4 consecutive NCAA Tournament bids (first time in program history).

    • 2010 NCAA Final Four appearance.

    • 6 straight 20+ win seasons (program record).

  • Key seasons:

    • 2009–10:

      • 26 wins (third-most in program history).

      • School-record 13-0 start.

      • Reached NCAA Final Four.

      • Defeated 7 ranked teams, including 3 No. 1 regionally ranked teams.

    • 2010–11:

      • 25-5 record.

      • Tied for ODAC regular-season title.

      • Won ODAC Tournament.

      • Finalist for Glenn Robinson Division III Coach of the Year Award.

    • 2011–12:

      • 21 wins.

      • Ranked in Top-25, as high as No. 3 in NCAA South Region.

    • 2012–13:

      • 21-10 record.

      • Won 2013 ODAC title as No. 3 seed.
         
      • Advanced to NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen.

Josh Merkel Era (2015–Present)

  • Took over in 2015 after previously serving as R-MC assistant in 2010–11.

  • 2019: 27-4 record, 15-1 ODAC, NCAA Sweet Sixteen (first under Merkel).

  • 2022: 33-1 record, 16-0 ODAC, first National Championship in program history; largest title game margin in NCAA DIII history (30 points); Buzz Anthony named DIII National Player of the Year.

  • 2022–24: Five straight NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances; 127-10 overall record over five years.