May 26, 2011

Kevin Rodgers Named Head Coach at NJCU

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | KEVIN RODGERS, `10, one of the most accomplished players in the history of either the men's or women's volleyball programs at New Jersey City University, and a veteran assistant coach with the Gothic Knight men's program, has been named head women's volleyball coach at his alma mater.

Rodgers, 23, is the 12^th coach in the 29-year history of the women's program. He will continue to serve as NJCU's assistant men's volleyball coach for a third season in 2012. Rodgers replaces Nicole Tallarida, who resigned after two seasons to accept a college teaching position.

Rodgers originally joined the NJCU coaching staff as an assistant to men's head coach Carlo Edra in 2009-10. The Gothic Knight men are a combined 31-29 in his two seasons with the program, advancing to the 2010 ECAC Division III South championship match and the 2010 North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Tournament.

“To represent my alma mater as the new coach for women's volleyball is a true honor that few former players get to have,” said Rodgers. “I have learned a lot having played under great coaches throughout my career and assisting under Coach Edra for the past two seasons. I am confident that I can bring this program back to the top where it was only a few years ago. I know it will be tough, but I am willing and eager to take on the challenge. The returning players are all enthusiastic and excited to work hard for this upcoming season.”

A 2010 graduate of NJCU, Rodgers received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Marketing. He previously served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Montclair High School boys' volleyball team. He has also served as a clinician at a number of camps at Clifton High School.

Alice De Fazio, Director of Athletics, said: “we anticipate much success with Kevin Rodgers as the NJCU women's volleyball coach, and are excited to move forward with him leading the program.”

A versatile player, Rodgers played outside and middle hitter for NJCU from 2006-09 in the difficult NECVA Metro Division. As a junior in 2008 he earned First-Team All-NECVA Metro accolades as a middle hitter before claiming Second-Team All-NECVA Metro honors as a senior in 2009 as an outside hitter. He was a two-year team co-captain from 2008-09.

Rodgers is the only player in NJCU men's history with more than 1,250 kills and 1,000 digs in a career and one of only two players to exceed the 1,000 threshold in both kills and digs. He finished his career with 1,297 kills, 1,537.5 points and 1,014 digs, adding 257 blocks (64 solo, 193 assisted), 113 assists and 80 service aces in 408 total sets and 117 matches.

Rodgers currently ranks second in NJCU men's history in kills, points, reception percentage, attacks and service attempts (1,733), third in points per set, fourth in kills per set and digs, and fifth in sets played.

On February 14, 2009, Rodgers equaled a single-match school record with 36 kills in a win over Emmanuel College. He also had 32 kills on February 7, 2008 at City College of New York and has added matches of 25 and 24 kills, giving him four of the Top 10 single-match kill marks in program history. He swung at a record 75 attempts in the win over Emmanuel helping him tie the single-match record for kills in a five-set match. His 25 kills vs. City Tech on March 14, 2008 equaled a school record for winners in three sets.

While playing for coaches Christopher Feliciano (now the women's coach at Division I Rider University) and Edra, the Gothic Knights owned a four-year record of 71-55 (.563) during his career, with three winning seasons, three post-season appearances and a pair of 20-win campaigns.

As a rookie in 2006, NJCU posted a 20-9 mark (.690), and were ranked as high as No. 14 in Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) in March of that season. The Knights were ranked or received votes in six consecutive AVCA polls during the season. NJCU qualified for the NECVA Tournament as the #10 seed and reached the finals of the ECAC Division III South tournament. Rodgers was voted the NECVA Metro Rookie of the Week on February 27, 2006. He finished the year with 264 kills, 312.5 points, 224 digs and 50 blocks in 101 sets (29 matches).

In 2007 NJCU went 17-13 (.567), qualified for the NECVA Tournament as the 15^th seed and was again selected for the ECAC Tournament, reaching the finals. He posted 419.5 points, 357 kills, 291 digs and 53 blocks in 101 sets (28 matches).

As a veteran on a freshman-laden club in 2008, the Knights went 14-17 before bouncing back during his senior season in 2009, posting the seventh 20-win campaign in school history with a 20-16 ledger. The Knights were the third seed in the ECAC Tournament, advancing to the semifinals of the event. As a junior, he had career highs in total points (436.0), kills (361), blocks (91) and added 271 digs. As a senior, he landed 369.5 points, 315 kills, 228 digs and 63 blocks.

Rodgers was selected to three All-Tournament Teams during his playing career—the 2008 York College Invitational and 14^th annual Gothic Knight Invitational. In 2009, he was named to the Endicott Invitational All-Tournament Team. On February 16, 2009, he was named the NJCU Men's Athlete of the Week.

Rodgers, who grew up in Los Angeles, California before moving to New Jersey in spring 2002, played four seasons at perennial North Jersey powerhouse Clifton High School from 2002-05. A two-time Clifton team Player of the Year and two-year team captain for the Mustangs (2004-05), he earned First-Team All-Passaic County and First-Team All-NNJIL league accolades both seasons, and Second-Team All-State honors in 2005. Rodgers guided Clifton to back-to-back county and league championships as a junior and senior and the 2005 state finals. The Bergen Record newspaper tabbed him its 2005 North Jersey Player of the Year and that same season was named the state Player of the Week by the Star Ledger.