Head Coach Joe Vari is in his eighth year as a member of the Lynx staff, and his seventh season at the helm of the women's soccer program. Vari has had a very successful campaign as the Lynx leader, directing the women's squad to a 64-37-12 record over the past six seasons. This past season Vari produced one all-conference first team player, two all-conference second team players, and six more on all-conference honorable mention players.
In May of 2008, Rhodes College’s Athletic Director, Mike Clary, announced the hiring of Vari.
“Joe was selected from among 100 candidates who applied for the position and he clearly was the top choice of our search committee” said Coach Clary.
Vari is the fourth head coach in program history.
In 2008, Vari served as the Men’s and Women’s Assistant Coach. Vari was part of the record breaking 2008 campaign for the Women’s Team. He helped the program to their first ever NCAA Tournament berth, their first SCAC title in 17 years, and to a 14-4-2 record. The team received their highest ever National Ranking at No. 10, and also their highest Regional Ranking at No. 2. Vari also helped produce the program’s first ever All-American, Becca Clarin. The 2008 Team also produced the Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, Katy Joyner, and also the Tri-Offensive Player of the Year, Diana Buss. The trio of Buss, Clarin, and Joyner received All-Region honors. The Lynx placed 10 players on the All-SCAC list, and 18 on the SCAC Academic Honor Roll. The team won their third straight NSCAA Team Academic Award.
Before coming to Rhodes, Vari was at Lynchburg College in Virginia. During his time at Lynchburg, Vari earned his Masters Degree in Education and spent time working with both the men’s and women’s soccer programs.
Vari was a member of the men’s coaching staff at Lynchburg for five years, serving most recently as first assistant coach to Chris Yeager who has led the hornets since 2002. Vari helped coach the team to an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship and a NCAA National Tournament appearance in 2006 - the program’s first in 20 years. The team advanced to the ODAC Tournament for five straight years and Vari assisted Yeager to ODAC Coach of the Year awards in 2004 and 2006.
During three years of his tenure in Lynchburg, Vari also worked with the Hornet women’s goalkeepers. He helped produce a First Team All-American and two All-South Region goalkeepers. He saw Dr. Todd Olson’s team earn two ODAC Championships in 2005 and 2007 and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 2005 and the Elite Eight in 2006. In 2006, the women finished second in Division III in shutout percentage (0.769), save percentage (0.916), and also goals against average (0.258). In 26 games, the team conceded only seven goals and earned 20 Shutouts.
In addition to his work at Lynchburg, Vari also served as an assistant boys’ varsity coach at Jefferson Forest High School. In 2006 the team won its first Regional Championship while advancing to the State Final Four.
Vari graduated from Hiram College (Ohio) in 2003, where he was a four year starter for the Terriers. During the 2002 season he was selected to the All-NCAC second Team, was voted team captain and also team MVP. He finished his career at Hiram, third in career shutouts and fourth in career saves.
He holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, and a NSCAA State Goalkeeping Diploma.
| Year | Overall Record | Conference Record | Percentage | Highlights |
| 2009 | 5-7-5 | 1-5-3 | .385 | |
| 2010 | 8-9-1 | 5-4-1 | .472 | |
| 2011 | 10-7-2 | 4-3-1 | .579 | |
| 2012 | 15-4-1 | 6-1-0 | .750 | |
| 2013 | 14-5-1 | 5-1-1 | .700 | |
| 2014 | 12-5-2 | 5-1-1 | .632 | |
| Overall | 64-37-12 | 21-15-7 | .566 | |
