Bio

After undergoing a comprehensive search, Southwestern College found an experienced collegiate coach from the game’s highest level in Oscar Rodriguez, Jr.

Dean of Wellness, Exercise Science & Athletics, Tom Gang and Director of Athletics, Ron Valenzuela announced Rodriguez as the 12th head football coach in program history on February 27. Rodriguez comes to Southwestern after spending the past two years on staff at the University of Kansas.

“Oscar’s vision for the future of the program is convincingly bold. Jaguar football needs a jolt, and Oscar’s proven ability to coach and develop young men, talent to evaluate and drive to relentlessly recruit are some of his greatest strengths. Oscar is a coach for today’s student athletes. He has the ability to connect and build authentic relationships with players and the determination to create a winning culture where young men can thrive academically and athletically,” Valenzuela said. 

In addition to his NCAA Division I experience at the University of Kansas and the University of Akron, Rodriguez has spent 13 years coaching at the FCS, Division II, III, NAIA, Community College, and high school levels. Rodriguez was the 2017 AFCA National Assistant Coach of the Year while at the University of La Verne. Rodriguez has coached 8 former players that went on to play in the National Football League including Super Bowl Champions Tyreek Hill, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Cary Williams. Rodriguez has learned from many of the top minds in high school, college, and pro football. Some of the names consist of Lance Leipold, Tom Arth, and Kansas high school coach Gary Cornelsen.

“What an honor and a blessing it is to be named the Head Football Coach at Southwestern College. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to become a head coach. There have been 3 things I look for in any head coach opportunity: investment in resources and facilities, alignment with the administration, and rich area for great local talent. SWC has checked all those boxes and I feel that God has brought me to the South Bay to impact/develop young men and win games in the process. California is home to my family as my wife is a SoCal native, so this opportunity is about Faith, Family, and Football for us.”

Rodriguez is active off the field and in the community as well. A two-time cancer survivor, he founded the Coaches Against Cancer Foundation which raises money annually with donations, silent auction, and golf tournament for people with cancer that need assistance financially for lodging, travel, medical bills, medication.

A native of Liberal, Kansas, Rodriguez played at Fort Hays State University, Coffeyville Community College, and Emporia State as a safety. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education/health from Fort Hays in 2005. Rodriguez earned a master’s degree from Washburn University in educational administration in 2008.

Rodriguez was an NFL Bill Walsh Fellowship participant in 2018 with the Chicago Bears.

Rodriguez, 42, and his wife Lauren have three children– Joey, Victoria, and Nathan.

Oscar Rodriguez Year-by-Year Coaching History

2022-2024      University of Kansas                       

Defensive Analyst - Secondary

2019-2022      University of Akron (Ohio)               

Interim Head Coach, Assistant Head Coach, Linebackers, Secondary

2018                University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

Assistant Head Coach, Linebackers, Special Teams Assistant

2015-2017      University of La Verne (California)

Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Assistant, Defensive Backs

2013-2014      Garden City (Kansas) Community College

Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, Defensive Line, Defensive Backs

2011-2013     Emporia State (Kansas) University

                        Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs

2010-2011      Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College

                        Associate Head-Coach, Co-Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Assistant

2008-2010      Baker (Kansas) University

                        Co-Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs

2006-2008      Washburn (Kansas) University

                        Graduate Assistant – Defensive Backs      

2005-2006      Randall (Texas) High School          

                        Defensive Backs