# Rhonda Rompola

Rhonda Lee Rompola (born March 9, 1960) is an American college basketball coach who was most recently the head women's basketball coach at Southern Methodist University (SMU) from 1991 to 2016.

## Early life and education

Rompola was born and raised in Sayreville, New Jersey. She graduated from Sayreville War Memorial High School in 1978. From 1978 to 1980, Rompola played basketball at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists and was part of two AIAW championship teams. Rompola transferred to SMU in Dallas. After redshirting one season per NCAA transfer rules, Rompola played at forward at SMU from 1981 to 1983. With 21.3 points per game, Rompola was SMU's leading scorer in 1981–82. She graduated in 1983 with a business degree.

## Coaching career

From 1983 to 1991, Rompola was an assistant coach at SMU before being promoted to head coach.
In her first season as coach in 1991–92, she posted a 17–12 record, the team's first winning season since 1981–82 when she was a player. Overall, she posted a 439–317 (.581) record at SMU. In 1998, SMU won its first-ever WAC tournament title, as it defeated 4th-ranked Colorado State University in the final, and then 25th-ranked Toledo in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. In 1998 and 1999, Rompola guided the Mustangs to back-to-back 20-win seasons. She was named the 1999 WAC Coach of the year for her efforts. In 2007, SMU went 24–9, and finished second in Conference USA play with an 11–5 mark. Along with being SMU's all-time leader in coaching wins in any sport, she also earned an honorable mention on the all-time Old Dominion Lady Monarchs basketball team. She coached her 400th victory on February 21, 2013.

## Personal life

Previously married to Steven Haddock, Rompola married men's basketball coach Mike Dement in June 2007.

## Head coaching record

Statistics overview :
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| SMU Mustangs (Southwest Conference) (1991–1996) ||||||
| 1991–92 | SMU | 17–12 | 7–7 | T–4th | |
| 1992–93 | SMU | 20–10 | 8–6 | 3rd | NWIT Runner-up |
| 1993–94 | SMU | 18–9 | 8–6 | 4th | NCAA first round |
| 1994–95 | SMU | 21–10 | 9–5 | T–2nd | NCAA second round |
| 1995–96 | SMU | 19–11 | 9–5 | 3rd | NCAA first round |
| SMU (SWC): | SMU (SWC): | 95–52 (.646) | 41–29 (.586) | | |
| SMU Mustangs (Western Athletic Conference) (1996–2005) ||||||
| 1996–97 | SMU | 19–11 | 11–5 | 3rd (Mountain) | |
| 1997–98 | SMU | 21–8 | 11–3 | T–2nd (Pacific) | NCAA first round |
| 1998–99 | SMU | 20–11 | 11–3 | 2nd (Mountain) | NCAA second round |
| 1999–2000 | SMU | 22–9 | 12–2 | 1st | NCAA second round |
| 2000–01 | SMU | 17–12 | 11–5 | 3rd | |
| 2001–02 | SMU | 12–18 | 6–12 | 7th | |
| 2002–03 | SMU | 16–15 | 8–10 | 7th | |
| 2003–04 | SMU | 13–15 | 9–9 | 5th | |
| 2004–05 | SMU | 19–11 | 10–8 | 5th | WNIT first round |
| SMU (WAC): | SMU (WAC): | 159–110 (.591) | 89–57 (.610) | | |
| SMU Mustangs (Conference USA) (2005–2013) ||||||
| 2005–06 | SMU | 16–14 | 10–6 | 3rd | |
| 2006–07 | SMU | 18–12 | 9–7 | 6th | |
| 2007–08 | SMU | 24–9 | 11–5 | 2nd | NCAA first round |
| 2008–09 | SMU | 20–12 | 12–4 | 1st | WNIT first round |
| 2009–10 | SMU | 20–11 | 10–6 | 2nd | WNIT first round |
| 2010–11 | SMU | 14–16 | 7–9 | 8th | |
| 2011–12 | SMU | 14–17 | 6–10 | T–9th | |
| 2012–13 | SMU | 21–10 | 12–4 | 1st | WNIT first round |
| SMU (C-USA): | SMU (C-USA): | 147–101 (.593) | 77–51 (.602) | | |
| SMU Mustangs (American Athletic Conference) (2013–2016) ||||||
| 2013–14 | SMU | 18–14 | 8–10 | 6th | WNIT second round |
| 2014–15 | SMU | 7–23 | 3–15 | 10th | |
| 2015–16 | SMU | 13–18 | 7–11 | 7th | |
| SMU (The American): | SMU (The American): | 38–55 (.409) | 18–36 (.333) | | |
| Total: | Total: | 438–318 (.579) | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||