| Robert Rodriguez | |
|---|---|
| Sport(s) | Football |
| Current position | |
| Title | Linebackers Coach |
| Team | University of Texas at El Paso |
| Conference | Conference USA |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | December 25, 1981 |
| Place of birth | El Paso, Texas |
| Alma mater | University of Texas at El Paso UTEP |
| Playing career | |
| 2000-2007 | UTEP 2000-2004, Tennessee Titans 2005, Carolina Panthers 2006, Cologne Centurions 2006, Calgary Stampeders 2006-2007 |
| Position(s) | Middle Linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2008–Present | UTEP (Defensive Program Coordinator 2008-09) UTEP (Assistant Coach (Linebackers) 2010-Present) |
Robert J. Rodriguez (born December 25, 1981) is an American football coach for the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Rodriguez coaches the UTEP Linebackers, the position that he played for the UTEP Miners from 2001-2004.[1]
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Attended Montwood High School in El Paso, Texas and lettered in both football and basketball. Rodriguez was a standout running back for Montwood and was the El Paso Times Offensive Player of the Year as well as All City 1st Team for the 1999 season. He signed a football scholarship with UTEP, choosing to continue his playing career in his hometown.
Ranks fifth on the all-time UTEP tackle chart with 443 tackles, including 33 for losses.[1] He led the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in tackles in three of his four seasons at UTEP (2001, 2003, 2004).[2] Rodriguez was appointed the WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 after being credited with 121 tackles and 16 tackles for losses.[3] Robert was the defensive captain on the 2004 UTEP Team that went to the EV1.net Houston Bowl vs. the University of Colorado and was ranked in the AP Top 25 for multiple weeks during the 2004 season.
After his final game with UTEP, Rodriguez was invited to play in the East West Shrine Game, one of the most prestigious college all-star games at the time. The Game was played at AT&T Park in San Francisco.[4]
Signed with the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League in April 2005 as an undrafted free-agent. He played in all 4 pre-season games before being released by the team on the final cut before the regular season.
Was signed onto the Carolina Panthers practice squad in early January 2006. The Panthers advanced to the NFC Championship Game where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks. Rodriguez was released following the season.
Was signed as a free agent by the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe for the 2006 season.
Signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in the summer of 2006 and played with the Stampeders through 2007.
Returned to his alma mater, UTEP, as the defensive program coordinator for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Robert was elevated to linebackers coach in 2010 and continues to hold that position today. In his first season as linebackers coach in 2010, Rodriguez coached four of the Miners' top seven tacklers. Those four combined to lead the team in tackles seven times in 13 games.[1]
Rodriguez is married to the former Holly Taylor, who played soccer for UTEP from 2000–2004 and now practices law in El Paso.[1] The couple currently resides in El Paso.
He has remained a popular figure in the El Paso area and was voted El Paso's Favorite Athlete in the El Paso Times "Best of the Border" Reader Poll in 2007.[5]