PORT ANGELES — Opportunity beckons for both the Peninsula College men’s soccer team and newly hired head coach Cale Rodriguez.
Taking control of the powerhouse Pirates program is the first collegiate head coaching position for Rodriguez, 27, a native of the Southern California city of Norwalk.
“I’m excited to have the challenge of being a head coach at a school that has had so much success,” Rodriguez said.
Indeed, Peninsula claimed two of the past three Northwest Athletic Conference championships, and three of the past five conference titles under former head man Andrew Chapman.
Last year’s squad won Peninsula’s sixth consecutive West Division title, advancing to the NWAC quarterfinals and posting a record of 13 wins, two losses and four ties under head coach Kanyon Anderson, who is now back to full-time duties leading the Pirate women’s team.
Rodriguez is no stranger to success himself, having played as a holding midfielder on a University of Redlands teams that recorded an overall record of 66-18-6 and three NCAA Division III tournament trips in his career, highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance during his sophomore season in 2007.
He broke into coaching as a volunteer at Redlands, then had the chance to coach athletes at the Division I level for the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, while also heading up high school and club teams.
Rodriguez then spent two seasons back at Redlands as a graduate assistant while completing a master’s degree in economics, before spending last season as a part-time coach for his alma mater under his former coach Ralph Perez, a highly regarded mainstay in the soccer coaching ranks.
Rodriguez served as the recruiting coordinator for Redlands, a challenging duty at a private Division III institution without athletic scholarships and with a high cost of tuition.
The ability to take the next step forward in his career with Peninsula appealed to Rodriguez.
“Having the opportunity to be a head coach and run my own program where I have the ability to test out my ideas was a great opportunity and one that will help me develop as a coach,” Rodriguez said.
Also appealing was the chance to bring in and develop athletes in order to see them eventually move on to Division I or II programs, something that Peninsula did with regularity under Chapman and Anderson.
“Working with those caliber of players — any opportunity to work with a strong soccer player — is exciting,” Rodriguez said.
“It’s why I coach at this level: the opportunity to bring in student-athletes, give them an opportunity for an education and to further their careers.”
Another factor that led him to take the Pirates job was having athletic scholarship funds at his disposal.
“For me, I’ll have the ability to attract a lot of the players I see fit and I like,” Rodriguez said.
A sense of community also played a role in his decision to uproot his life and set down new roots in the Pacific Northwest.
“Lastly, the people here, the community,” Rodriguez said.
“The atmosphere has been very inviting. It’s nice for me to be part of an athletic department that’s working together to achieve at a high level, and I’m thankful for that.”
Since taking the job in mid-March, Rodriguez has spent the bulk of his time recruiting players for his program.
“I’ve been on the recruiting trail trying to compile a list of quality student-athletes that can contribute to the program,” Rodriguez said.
“I went to two showcases in [Las] Vegas and, being in Southern California, I’ve had the opportunity to go to events there and scout.”
He’s also evaluated the players assistant coach Omar Anderson, a former Pirate player, has been recruiting.
Anderson will stay in his role as assistant coach at Peninsula College through the Rumble in the Rainforest, the school’s annual spring soccer exhibition Saturday, April 25, before taking an assistant coaching position at Southern Oregon University.
“That’s a great opportunity to get out of his comfort zone and seek a new challenge,” Rodriguez said of Anderson’s move to a four-year program.
Peninsula’s other assistant coach, Tim Tucker, will stay on with Rodriguez.
“Tim is an important part of the program,” Rodriguez said.
“I’m looking for his thoughts, and he will be in a key role going forward. Our personalities and goals are very much in line.”
As to what type of style his team will play, expect a team that values possession and puts forth a controlled style defensively.
“I wouldn’t call myself a defensive coach, but I want to be very organized defensively and be a in a position to not concede goals,” Rodriguez said.
“I want players that have a willingness to defend. It’s kind of a lost art.”
But Rodriguez understands you don’t win without getting on the scoreboard.
“You can’t win games without scoring goals, so we will play an attractive and highly offensive brand of soccer for sure,” he said.
Rodriguez described himself as a coach who is “very demanding of his players.”
“When we are out there we are going to work and gain something from it,” Rodriguez said.
“Every day after training, I want them to feel like they are leaving a better player and they got something out of the session.
“I want to provide that push, that challenge every day, so that by time we get to a game, PC is a dominant team and there’s nothing they haven’t experienced.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
