Former Stanford coach Charles Rodriguez joins Yale men’s soccer staff
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Charles Rodriguez, who helped lead Stanford to back-to-back NCAA Championships as an assistant coach, has joined Kylie Stannard’s coaching staff at Yale University.
“I can’t be more excited about the addition of Charles as the top assistant for Yale men’s soccer,” said Stannard, The 5K Corral Head Coach of the Bulldogs. “I’ve been hearing great things about Charles the past few years, and there is no question he is one of the rising stars in our profession and one of the top 20 assistants in the nation. He immediately makes our program better and will not only raise the bar for our players but also for me and the rest of our coaching and support staff.
“Charles comes from the most elite college soccer program in the nation at Stanford. It’s a program that I have referenced many times to our players and what we aspire to become. He has learned from the best college coach in the country in Jeremy Gunn and also played for him at UNC Charlotte.”
Rodriguez spent three seasons at Stanford. During his tenure, the Cardinal posted a 46-9-12 overall record and won national titles in 2016 and 2017.
His primary responsibility was working with Stanford’s back four. In each of the two national-title runs, the Cardinal did not allow a goal in the entire NCAA Tournament, and in his three seasons on staff, Stanford posted 42 shutouts.
“I’m very humbled to join the Yale men’s soccer program,” Rodriguez said. “It’s evident the foundation Coach Stannard has built here is incredibly strong, and I cannot wait for us to push the program to new heights.”
Prior to Stanford, Rodriguez spent the three seasons on staff at Xavier. In 2015, the Musketeers won 12 games, rose to No. 10 in the national rankings and won on the road at both No. 1 Creighton and No. 2 Notre Dame. In 2014, Xavier experienced the most successful season in school history, breaking program records for wins (15), shutouts (11) and team goals against average (0.84). Rodriguez and the XU staff were recognized as the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year and Xavier was among the final 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
Rodriguez, a 2012 graduate of UNC Charlotte, was also an accomplished player. As a senior at Charlotte in 2011, he was named a Soccer America First Team All-American, was a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection and became the first defender in Charlotte history to earn United Soccer Coaches First Team All-America honors. He was also named to the 2011 NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team while captaining the 49ers to the national final for the first time in school history.
The center back guided a Charlotte defense that had nine shutouts, limited 21 foes to a goal or less and only allowed four goals in six NCAA Tournament games in 2011. During Rodriguez’s four years, the 49ers tallied 30 shutouts.
Rodriguez was drafted in the third round of Major League Soccer’s 2012 Supplemental Draft by D.C. United. He later moved on to the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Pro League. Following the 2012 season, Rodriguez returned to Charlotte to finish his degree in political science and criminal justice.
“What I’m most excited about is how comparable Charles and I are in our vision and philosophy for what’s needed to build a championship level program,” Stannard said. “We see the game and players in a similar way but also each bring different backgrounds and successful experiences that will help elevate our program to the next level. Lastly, and most importantly, Charles is a great person and enjoyable to be around. We welcome he and his fiancé, Danielle, to the Yale Soccer family.”
