University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Women's Cross Country

Rhodes begins his third season as head coach of the men's and women's cross country teams. During his inaugural season, Rhodes guided the Lions and Lady Lions to eighth-place finishes in the Heartland Conference Meet. A native of Russellville, Ark., Rhodes ran cross country for four seasons for UAFS and is a 2018 graduate of the school. Rhodes is ranked in the program’s Top 10 all-time in 6k and 10k events. He helped lead the Lions to their first three meet wins in program history – 2014 and 2017 University of the Ozarks Invitational 8k and 2015 UAFS-Trinity Invitational 6k – and helped lead the Lions to four Top 10 finishes in the Heartland Conference Meet. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from UAFS and also will assist the athletics program in the areas of game day operations, marketing and social media.  

Unger begins her third season as head womens cross country coach and assistant womens basketball coach. Prior to joining the UAFS staff, Unger was a graduate assistant womens basketball coach at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin for one season. During that time, the Falcons won the regular-season Heartland Conference Championship, received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and earned the schools and conferences first win in the national tournament with a first-round win against Abilene Christian. Unger is a graduate of UTPB, where she earned a bachelors degree in Kinesiology. She also played basketball four seasons for the Falcons. A shooting guard, Unger set the school and conference record for most made 3-pointers in a career and, as a junior, helped lead the Falcons to the conference tournament championship and their first berth in the national tournament. A native of San Jose, Calif., Unger is a 2008 graduate of Midland (Texas) High School, where she lettered four seasons in basketball. Lauren Unger Assistant Women's Basketball Coach/Head Women's Cross Country Coach Lauren Unger begins her third season as head womens cross country coach and assistant womens basketball coach. Prior to joining the UAFS staff, Unger was a graduate assistant womens basketball coach at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin for one season. During that time, the Falcons won the regular-season Heartland Conference Championship, received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and earned the schools and conferences first win in the national tournament with a first-round win against Abilene Christian. Unger is a graduate of UTPB, where she earned a bachelors degree in Kinesiology. She also played basketball four seasons for the Falcons. A shooting guard, Unger set the school and conference record for most made 3-pointers in a career and, as a junior, helped lead the Falcons to the conference tournament championship and their first berth in the national tournament. A native of San Jose, Calif., Unger is a 2008 graduate of Midland (Texas) High School, where she lettered four seasons in basketball.