ALBANY, Ga. – Albany State University has named Rodney Mayes as its next head men's basketball coach. He will officially begin his role on April 6.
University President Dr. Robert Scott emphasized the continued momentum of Albany State Athletics and the significance of this hire.

"We are excited to welcome Coach Mayes to Albany State University. He brings a strong foundation of experience, leadership, and a clear commitment to the development of student-athletes. This is an important time for our athletics program, and we look forward to the impact he will have on our campus community and beyond."

Mayes brings more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience, along with an extensive professional playing career overseas that continues to shape how he develops, prepares, and leads his student-athletes. Most recently, he served as head coach at Lyon College, his first head coaching opportunity, where he successfully guided the program through its transition from NAIA to NCAA Division III while maintaining consistent success on the court.

Prior to Lyon, Mayes gained experience at both the NCAA Division II and NAIA levels, including stops at the University of West Georgia and Point University. At West Georgia, he was part of a program that compiled an 86–61 record, earned multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, and competed for conference championships. At Point, he helped lead the program to an Appalachian Athletic Conference championship and a national top-25 ranking.
Director of Athletics Dr. Kristene Kelly spoke to Mayes' consistency throughout the search process and his overall fit to lead the program.

"Coach Mayes separated himself throughout this process. He was consistent, prepared, and intentional every step of the way, and that matters. He understands what it takes to build and sustain a program and how to lead young men the right way. His ability to connect, develop, and compete at a high level made him the right choice to lead Albany State men's basketball forward."

A former All-American student-athlete at West Virginia Tech, where he earned his degree in 2005, Mayes went on to play professionally for eight years internationally, bringing a well-rounded perspective to player development and program leadership.
Mayes expressed his excitement about joining Albany State and leading the Golden Rams program.

"I'm truly honored for the opportunity to lead the men's basketball program at Albany State University, and I'm grateful to Dr. Scott and Dr. Kelly for their trust," said Mayes.
"As a husband and father, I believe in building a family environment where our student-athletes grow as men, excel academically, and compete at a high level. We will build a program that our campus and community can be proud of."

Albany State men's basketball has a strong foundation and a passionate base of alumni and supporters. Under Mayes' leadership, the program is positioned to build on that foundation while continuing to grow its presence on campus and in the Albany community.

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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.