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James Rodriguez

James Rodriguez

  • Class Year:
    1953
  • Induction Year:
    1983
  • Sport(s):
    Basketball and Baseball
James "Jim" Rodriguez '53 earned a total of five varsity letters at Baldwin Wallace, lettering twice in baseball and three times in basketball. He was named BW's sixth Outstanding Senior Athlete in 1953 as he captained both the basketball and baseball teams. Rodriguez hit .380 as a senior on the diamond, while in basketball he was known for his 'set shot' as he shot 60 percent from the field. He was a member of the 1951 BW basketball team, which won a then school-record 19 games and a Big Four title.
 
Following graduation from BW, Rodriguez served in the United States Army for two years. Following his discharge, he taught and coached at Solon High School before moving on to Fenn College in 1959 (now Cleveland State University) as a professor in the physical education department and then Director of Intramurals in 1965.
 
As a coach at CSU, Rodriguez was on the men's basketball staff for 10 years, serving as Head Coach for seven years from 1959 to 1966. He was also the Vikings Head Baseball Coach for 12 years from 1960 to 1971. He is third winningest baseball coach in CSU history. After his coaching career, Rodriguez remained a professor in CSU's physical education department and served as Coordinator of Men's Athletics for over a decade.
 
Rodriguez then became an Assistant Athletic Director in 1990 and retired as Associate Athletic Director at CSU in 1994 after 35 years at the institution. He was inducted in CSU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995 and established the James Rodriguez Endowment for CSU athletics programs.
 
Rodriguez was joined in the BW Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame by his younger brother, Angelo '62, in 1994 and son, Mark '83, in 1996.

Rodriguez and his wife, Dodi, have four sons, Mike, Mark '83, Dave '84, and Bob '87. Mark, Dave and Bob all played football at Baldwin Wallace.