Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
For thirty-eight years Sarah Hatgas was the face of women’s athletics at Rhodes. When Sarah arrived to Rhodes in August, 1976, Rhodes sponsored two varsity women’s sports, tennis and volleyball, with approximately twenty-five women participating. When Sarah retired in June, 2014, Rhodes sponsored twelve women’s varsity sports with over 225 women participating.
In women’s basketball Sarah is the all-time winningest coach in program history with 207 wins. Her 1983-84 team won the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title. Sarah coached five 1,000 point scorers, five All-Americans and over twenty All-Conference players. The top two scorers in school history, Ellen Thompson and Amy Culpepper, flourished under her direction and are members of the Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sarah achieved unparalleled success as the Lynx women’s and men’s tennis coach. Between 1985 and 2006 the Lynx women’s tennis teams qualified for the NCAA tournament ten out of twelve years. The 1985 and 2001 teams finished eighth in the final NCAA national poll. Sarah coached Rhodes first individual national champion when Nao Kinoshita won the 1995 NCAA Division III singles title. Nao repeated as the DIII singles champion in 1997, and she and doubles partner Taylor Tarver won the DIII doubles title in 1997 as well. Under Sarah’s leadership the Lynx men’s tennis team consistently ranked as one of the top teams in the Atlantic Region. Most recently, the men’s team compiled a 19-1 record in 2011.
Sarah served as the Assistant Director of Athletics from 1990 through 2014, where she provided oversight for NCAA Compliance and the Physical Education activity program. As a result of Sarah’s initiative and creativity, Rhodes sponsors one of the largest and most diverse martial arts programs for a highly selective, liberal arts school in the nation. She holds an eighth degree black belt in PaSaRyu and a first degree black belt in ITF Taekwondo.
Said longtime colleague and Hall of Fame Coach Herb Hilgeman, “Sarah Hatgas is the ultimate professional. She always dealt with students, faculty and staff with the utmost integrity and honesty.” For her commitment and dedication to the athletic program, Rhodes is honored to induct SARAH RISSER HATGAS into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 10th day of October, 2014.
