Manny Rodriguez fills out some receipts in his office. Photo by Robert Parker.
Athletic Director Manny Rodriguez feels as if his 37 years in the business have served him well, as he has made the decision to make this year his last.
Rodriguez has done it all: he’s taught eight different subjects in 30 years, ranging from Health and Safety to World Cultures to Leadership. He’s worked at four different schools as a teacher, coach and administrator. He’s even taken a student-teaching course for a kindergarten class.
“It’s just that time. I’ve really enjoyed the years here: I love the school, I love what we’ve been able to do. The kids are awesome, the staff is one of the best I’ve ever worked with, it’s just–” he pauses, his voice quivers and his eyes grow teary, just a little bit, “just sometimes it’s time to ‘hang up the cleats’ when the time comes. And believe me, it’s a hard thing to do,” Rodriguez said.
Not only is it hard for Rodriguez, but it is also an emotional time for his co-workers.
“I kinda feel bad to seem him go and not be involved in our school. He’s such a great guy, so that is kind of a bummer,” coach Mike Gimenez said.
It is just as hard for Mrs. Debra Hawkins, who built this school with Rodriguez, to see him leave.
“He’s great with students, the students love him, I’ll miss him for the friendship. For me, as a colleague, whenever I get down or I get happy, he’s always a good person to talk to. I’ll miss his constant presence, which is a friendship and a colleague and a helper for everything that goes on on this campus,” Hawkins said.
Students think highly of Rodriguez and have enjoyed his company on campus.
“I like Mr. Rod, he was a good athletic director. He always came to the water polo events, even though no one else did,” senior Chandler Sherman said.
After Rodriguez sent his letter of resignation to the district office and announced the news to the staff on Jan. 13. After the statement, the big question arose: who will take over as athletic director?
“Mrs. (Debra) Hawkins was trying to figure out what we were trying to do as to finding who was going to take my position, and Mr. (Mark) Williams has played some sports in college and so the question was asked ‘would you mind taking it over?’ And he said he would, and he’ll do a good job,” Rodriguez said.
Williams knows a thing or two about sports. He has been playing multiple sports all of his life, and played baseball on a part-time scholarship from Santa Clara University, a Division I school.
Williams taking over should be no big adjustment, as he said he plans to maintain Rodriguez’s system of business.
“I just plan on carrying on [Rodriguez’s] program. He’s been here from the start and he’s done a tremendous job with all the sports and getting the programs up to their current level. Obviously every person has their own unique way of doing things, so certain small things will change that are more my style, but in terms of the overall production, I just plan on carrying on all the great things he has done as well,” Williams said.
It will be standard procedure for the coaches as well, as they only expect the same from Williams as they do from Rodriguez.
“Williams is a great guy, just like Rod, so I think it will be pretty smooth. He knows how it goes, so he’ll be great,” Gimenez said.
Williams said he hopes to take advantage of this new job and cannot wait to start as of next year.
“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity. It’s great that I’m able to have a job that’s also around sports now,” Williams said.
In the meantime, Rodriguez plans to take care of some “business” after his retirement.
“[I plan on] fishing, playing golf, taking a lot of photos. I started taking pictures around 1977,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez’s photos have been published twice, as well as having received several awards during competitions.
Although he can still pursue photography, he cannot continue on with his love of running. Due to his hip replacement, which happened nearly 15 years ago, running has not been an option, and it haunts him to this day.
“Still at times, I have dreams where I’m running. It’s like you do it all your life and all of a sudden your legs are cut out from beneath you. But those are the cards I’ve been dealt with. I can still walk, bike and swim,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez acknowledges some of the happier moments of his 37-year career took place here, like winning the section championship for both football and girls’ soccer. While still a coach, Rodriguez won a couple of section titles for wrestling at James Lick High, before transferring to Bear River High. But of all of the moments, he remembers his coaching days and how they affected him as not just a coach or an administrator, but a person.
“I was very young and stupid. I was so arrogant that I needed to learn humility. You know, you have so much success at the very beginning, and then everything else goes downhill, and so, I had a lot of learning [to do]. That happened the first five years, so the last 32 years have been learning how to be human and caring for other people,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he will not forget his time at the school, but he does bring up some positives to his choice to retire.
“I’ll miss the staff, the school, the kids, but every chance I get I’ll be able to take naps in the middle of the day, and I’ll be able to go to CostCo at 10 in the morning,” Rodriguez said.
By ROBERT PARKER
