Mike Rhoades explains 'great respect' for ex-Penn State coach Jim Ferry ahead of UMBC game

When Penn State tips off against UMBC at 6 p.m. Friday, a face familiar to Nittany Lions fans will be manning the opposing bench.

The Retrievers' head coach is Jim Ferry, who served as Penn State's interim head coach in 2020-21 after Patrick Chambers' resignation . Ferry was an assistant in Happy Valley starting in 2018 and went 11-14 (7-12 in conference) in his lone season as the head man. Coaches around the Big Ten, including Michigan State legend Tom Izzo, praised Ferry for the work he did considering the circumstances.

Penn State pivoted the next season to now-Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry, while Ferry took over at UMBC. He's gone 48-39 with the Retrievers, and current Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades had some rave reviews of his upcoming opponent.

"I've met Coach Ferry on the road many times and always had great talks with him. I've always watched his teams because of the way they play," Rhoades said this week. "I have great respect for coach, the way he handles himself, the way his staff acts, and how hard his teams play. They play the right way.

"If I had a son that could play for him, man, I'd be a happy dad. That's what I think of Coach Ferry.

"I know what he did here, his impact and imprint on the program was instrumental, without a doubt. He's loved by his former players. Those Penn Staters that played for Coach Ferry here, they love him. I have great respect for him.

"I also think he's just a great dude. If you ever hangout, sit around and talk to him, he's just a fun guy to be around. I think he takes his job very seriously, I don't think takes himself seriously. Those are the type of guys I like to be around. So great respect."

UMBC is off to a 1-0 start this season with a 95-66 win over Penn State York, while Rhoades' Nittany Lions impressed with a 108-66 win over Binghamton in Game 1 . It's the fifth meeting all time between the programs, with Penn State holding a 4-0 advantage. They last played in 2018.

Friday's game will air on Big Ten Network with former Nittany Lions Myles Dread — who played under Ferry — as the color commentator.

"His team will come in here Friday night and play super hard. They'll play the right way. They'll represent coach ferry and UMBC the right way," Rhoades said. "I have mad respect for him. I think he's one of the good guys in this profession, but I think he's a heck of a coach, too.

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