Kathleen Rodriguez named Islanders Head Softball Coach

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Director of Athletics Jon Palumbo today announced the hiring of Kathleen Rodriguez as the new head softball coach for the Islanders. A coaching veteran who has achieved success at all levels of college softball, Rodriguez comes to the Island after five years as head coach at Trinity Valley Community College which culminated in a Region XIV East tournament championship and NJCAA national tournament appearance in 2021. Previously, Rodriguez spent 10 seasons as the head coach at UTEP where she started the program and holds the program record for total wins and wins in a season.

"We are very excited to welcome Kathleen Rodriguez as our head softball coach," Palumbo said. "She is a competitor and a veteran builder of softball programs. She has a strong track record of developing young women on and off the softball field, and I look forward to working with her to continue the upward trajectory of Islanders softball. I have no doubt that she will have a positive impact on not only our program, but the entire Corpus Christi softball community."
 
"With appreciation and gratitude, I am extremely  humbled to be named the next head softball coach at Texas A & M University Corpus Christi," said Rodriguez. "Thank you to Islander President, Dr. Miller,  Director of Athletics Jon Palumbo, Deputy Athletic Director Lizzie Gomez, Associate Athletic Directors Josiah Castro and Randy Eaton for entrusting me with the exciting task of leading Islander softball; I will not let you down and will work tirelessly to make you, the Southland Conference and the Corpus Christi  community proud. I am extremely grateful for the beautiful five years that my family and I had at Trinity Valley and Athens, Texas. Our Rodríguez family gained so many new friends/family members along the way, and for that I will be forever grateful."
 
"To my student/athletes present & past: Mamacitas, recuerda siempre que tu manera de ser es un modelo para el cer humano! I LOVE YOU MORE. GO ISLANDERS!"
 
Kathleen and husband James Rodriguez were co-head coaches at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M. from 2000-02, with Kathleen heading up the program during the 1998 season. Together they guided Eastern New Mexico to a fifth-place national showing in 2001. The Zias were Lone Star Conference South Division and South Central Regional Champions, earning them league coach of the year and regional coaching honors. Eastern New Mexico's team grade point average rated among the nation's top 20 Division II schools in each of their last three years at the school.
 
Prior to ENMU they started up the softball program at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, leading the Mountaineers to the regional tournament in only their second year of existence. Kathleen began her coaching career as an assistant at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas in 1995.
 
A native of Santa Fe, N.M., Kathleen was a four-year starter for Saint Mary's University's national tournament team from 1991-94, playing catcher and third base. She was an All-State player at Santa Fe High School from 1988-90. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science from St. Mary's University in San Antonio and a Master's degree in Human Performance and Leisure Sport from Eastern New Mexico University.
 
Kathleen and James have two sons, Ryan and Aryn and a daughter, Isabella.

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