Texas A&M International University Men's Cross Country

Rodriguez returns for his eighth season as Head Coach of the Texas A&M International University mens and womens cross country teams in 2012.  In seven seasons with the program Coach Rodriguez has turned the program into one of the most formidable in the Heartland Conference. The 2011 season was a banner year for the program with both the mens and womens teams qualifying for the regional tournament.  The mens team finished second place at the Heartland Conference Championship, which was held locally in Laredo, after struggling to a fifth place finish in 2010.  The women took third place at the Conference Championship earning their second consecutive regional berth. A total of six runners have earned All-Heartland Conference honors with top-10 finishes at the conference meet under Rodríguez's direction.  Roger Rueweler was the latest addition to the list, taking fourth place in the 2011 Heartland Conference Championship, while Daniel Alfaro brought home Conference Freshman of the Year honors with a twelfth place finish.  On the womens side, Crystal Dickinson grabbed her second straight All-Conference selection, taking fifth place at the Conference Championship.  In the 2010 season Marlene Gutíerrez finished third at the Conference Championships with Crystal Dickinson finishing sixth.  The accomplishment marked the third straight All-Heartland Conference finish for Gutíerrez.  In his first season with the Dustdevils Eddie Gonzalez, Mark Vela, and Anetra Matthews earned All-Red River Athletic Conference honors before advancing to the NAIA National Championships. Rodriguez was born and raised in Laredo, Texas and was a standout runner for Nixon High School.  In his senior season he helped the Mustangs bring home the team district championship, while also taking the individual title and eventually qualifying for the state meet.  After graduating in 1994, he moved on to the collegiate ranks running for the Texas A&M Kingsville cross country team.  During his time with the Javelinas, he was a two-time All-Lone Star Conference selection while also serving as team captain as a junior and senior.   After receiving his bachelors degree in kinesiology from TAMUK in 2000, he took his first coaching job leading the track and field, football, and basketball teams at United South Middle School.   In 2002 he moved on to Memorial Middle School where he coached again coached track and field, football, and basketball for two years. Rodríguez and his wife Melina, reside in Laredo and are the proud parents of their daughter Alexa.