Why PBR team Oklahoma Wildcatters turned to rodeo coaching legend Greg Rhodes
· Yahoo Sports
Greg Rhodes is no stranger to winning.
He devoted 29 years to coaching Western Texas College rodeo to excellence, producing 16 national champions and 28 gold and silver finishers.
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Now as head coach of Oklahoma City’s professional bull riding team, the Oklahoma Wildcatters, Rhodes plans to bring his championship pedigree to the highest level of the sport.
Coaching a PBR team was an offer he simply could not pass up.
“It's like any athlete,” Rhodes said. “I mean, you want to be at the pinnacle of the sport, and so the PBR league is the next level.”
PBR Teams is a relatively new and unique opportunity for coaches like Rhodes. Launched in 2022, the league allows coaches to build a 12-rider roster through a draft while representing a host city.
For nearly three decades, Rhodes believed college rodeo was the sport's only true coaching level.
“When this came along, it opened up a whole new ball game for individuals like myself,” Rhodes said. “And whenever they approached me and the opportunity came, yes, I was excited to jump on board.”
The Oklahoma Wildcatters joined the league as one of its 10 teams in 2024. During their first two seasons, they were coached by legendary bull rider J.B. Mauney.
After finishing eighth and ninth overall in the PBR Teams standings over the last two years, the Wildcatters now turn to a veteran collegiate coach for something more.
“You’re having to give your peak performance every time you nod your head, whether it’s college or professionally in the sport of bull riding,” Rhodes said. “It’s no different.”
He brings the same winning approach that made him one of college rodeo's most successful coaches.
“My motivation is to get these guys to a different level of performance,” Rhodes said. “That's what I did at the college level. You're dealing with an athlete that's geared a certain way at the professional level, and it's just seeing if you can introduce something to them or reinforce something that's going to elevate them another step or two.”
Wildcatter Days, the team's annual homestand, returned to Paycom Center this weekend, running from Friday through Sunday. It marked the second event of the 12-event regular season.
The opening night left coaches like Rhodes searching for answers as riders struggled to stay on their bulls. After the Nashville Stampede received a re-ride opportunity, the Wildcatters lost their matchup.
“It's a humbling sport,” Rhodes said. “There's a lot of coaches walking away tonight not feeling like they needed to feel after the event was over. But that's the sport of riding bulls.”
One highlight from Friday night came from Wildcatter Kaiden Loud, who recorded a career best 91.2-point ride in the PBR Teams league.
Loud enjoys the teams format and the opportunity to compete under Rhodes and his coaching staff.
“It pays a lot, and it's fun. You get coaches to pick what bulls you're getting on, so it's always good,” Loud said. “Rhodes knows what he’s doing.”
Now sitting at 1-2, the Wildcatters still have a long road ahead before the PBR Teams Championship in November.
Rhodes remains confident in his Oklahoma team.
“I'm definitely happy with this team,” Rhodes said. “We got the right guys. We just have to figure out what's going to pull the trigger every night to get it done.”
Amanda Avila is a sports intern for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Amanda? She can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @avilaonair. Support Amanda's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why PBR team Oklahoma Wildcatters turned to rodeo coaching legend Greg Rhodes