Search

Rhodes College

Rhodes College Athletics
 2000 North Parkway Memphis, TN 38112
Division 3 Tennessee Southeast
Private Small Developing team
I'm interested in this program!

Coaches

Email coach

McKinnon Pennell

McKinnon Pennell joined the Rhodes staff as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach in 2024.


Before coming to Rhodes, Pennell was an assistant coach at The Citadel.


Prior to his time in Charleston, he served as an assistant women's soccer coach and recruiting coordinator at Sewanee: The University of the South for three seasons. During his tenure, he also held the interim head coach title from December 2019 to February 2020.


At Sewanee, Pennell was instrumental in leading the Tigers to the 2022 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) regular-season championship and their conference tournament championship game. For their achievements, the coaching staff was honored as the 2022 SAA Staff of the Year.

Pennell’s responsibilities at Sewanee included running practice sessions, breaking down film, developing scouting reports, evaluating and recruiting potential student-athletes, and assisting with travel and budgetary duties.


Before his role at Sewanee, Pennell served as the Director of Soccer Operations at Old Dominion University (ODU) from August 2021 to February 2022. At ODU, he was part of a successful staff that led the team to win the Conference USA regular season and conference tournament championships, earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament, and achieve regional and national rankings. The ODU staff was also recognized as the Conference USA Staff of the Year.


At Old Dominion, Pennell's duties included recruiting, player development through analytics, and serving as the social media director.


As a player, Pennell spent four years on Sewanee's men’s soccer team and earned All-SAA Academic Team honors. He also has academy coaching experience with Virginia Beach City FC and South Carolina Surf. He holds a USSF C License and strength and conditioning certifications.


Pennell graduated from Sewanee in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in Economics and later earned his Master's degree in Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 2022.

show more
Email coach

Kyle Schwartz

Kyle Schwartz is the new Assistant Women's Soccer Coach at Rhodes College for the 2023-24 season, bringing a wealth of experience, knowledge, and a passion for the game to the program. With a solid foundation in both playing and coaching, he is dedicated to fostering excellence on and off the field.


Kyle earned his bachelor's degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Cumberland University in 2019. During his collegiate years, he also donned the jersey for the Cumberland University soccer team from 2016 to 2019. His time on the field was marked by remarkable achievements, including clinching a conference championship in the Mid-South Conference of the NAIA in 2017. Additionally, his team received two NAIA National tournament berths while at Cumberland University, showcasing his commitment to excellence as a player.


Following his playing career, Kyle transitioned into coaching. He began his coaching journey, outside of club soccer, as a graduate assistant with the Middle Tennessee Women's Soccer team. In his first season, he played a pivotal role in guiding MTSU to the Conference USA tournament final, marking the program's first appearance in the C-USA tournament final in seven years. Part of his responsibilities included providing data tracking and analysis from Catapult and Titan GPS systems to the head coach, emphasizing his dedication to using data-driven approaches to enhance player performance. Kyle also played a key role in shaping daily training sessions, fitness testing protocols, and training intensity based on GPS tracking data, ensuring that his teams were always prepared to excel on the field.


Beyond his coaching roles, Kyle has made significant contributions to the field of soccer research. He has published scientific research that delves into the intersection of GPS tracking technology and its correlation to anaerobic field tests in collegiate women's soccer players. His commitment to advancing the sport through research demonstrates his holistic approach to coaching and player development.


Lastly, Kyle has been an accomplished soccer referee with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) since 2017. He has officiated countless games ranging from district finals to sectional games in the Middle Tennessee region. Furthermore, he has been an accomplished referee with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) since 2011. He is currently a grade 7 referee while pursuing his regional license with USSF.

show more
© 2025 SincSports   |   Privacy Policy    |   Cookie Policy