Mitch Rodrigue, who has more than 20 years of coaching at the collegiate level, is entering his second season and third year on the South Alabama coaching staff working with offensive tackles and tight ends.
In the program’s inaugural season, two of Rodrigue’s tight ends played a vital role in helping the Jag offense average 439 yards and nearly 46 points per contest. In addition to helping the run game with key blocks on the edge, Paul Bennett tied for second on the squad with six receptions for 79 yards, while Kevin Helms tied for fourth on the team after making five catches for 65 yards with a score.
Prior to his arrival a South Alabama, Rodrigue spent the previous nine seasons at Southern Miss, where he coached the offensive line (2003-07), tight ends (2000-02) and running backs (1999). During his tenure, he was a valuable member of the staff, not only on the field, but also as a recruiter, as he was named one of Rivals.com Top 10 recruiters from a non-BCS conference in 2006. That same season, Rodrigue’s offensive line allowed just 10 sacks all season, ranking 18th nationally, while the Golden Eagles rushed for an average of 169.9 yards a game, which ranked first in Conference USA and 25th nationally. The unit also collected its first two All-Americans since the 1950s, with the naming of George Batiste and Travis Cooley to different squads, and led the Golden Eagles to a school-record 4,635 yards of total offense, over 2,000 yards rushing for the first time since 1987, and the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2002.
In 2005, Rodrigue guided the offensive line to another strong season, as the offense finished with 4,288 yards of total offense, the sixth-best performance in school history. The offensive line, led by all-Conference USA performers Batiste and Cooley, only allowed nine sacks that season, ranking 12th in the nation, and did not allow a sack in six games on the year.
In 2004, the offensive line, led by linemen Jeremy Parquet (second-team all-Conference USA) and Chris Clark (C-USA All-Freshman Team) was just as strong, surrendering only seven sacks for the season. Parquet was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL Draft.
During his first season leading the USM offensive line (2003), Rodrigue helped the Golden Eagles win their fourth Conference USA title and earn an invitation to the Liberty Bowl despite working with a unit that had lost three starters to the National Football League from the previous year. All Rodrigue did was have three players — Parquet (first-team), Jim Hicks (second-team) and Chris White (third-team) — garner all-league honors. Cooley was also named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 2002.
Before taking over as the offensive line coach in 2003, Rodrigue coached the running backs in 1999 and the tight ends from 2000-02. He also assisted with the offensive line during his initial stint at Southern Miss, serving as the program’s graduate assistant in 1989 and 1990 under former head coach Curley Hallman. During his 11 seasons at USM, the Golden Eagles made eight bowl trips — participating in the GMAC Bowl (2000, ’06), the New Orleans Bowl (2004, ’05), the AXA Liberty Bowl (1999, 2003), the Papajohns.com Bowl (2007), the Houston Bowl (2002) and the All-American Bowl (1990).
A native of Thibodaux, La., Rodrigue also coached several seasons at Nicholls State (1993-98), serving as tight ends and offensive line coach as well as offensive coordinator during his time at his alma mater. While at NSU, Rodrigue helped the Colonels lead the Southland Conference in passing. In addition to his time as the Colonels’ offensive coordinator, he also served at various times as recruiting coordinator and, after the resignation of Rick Rhoades in 1995, interim head coach. As offensive line coach, Rodrigue’s linemen blocked for the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher in 1996. Rodrigue was also a student assistant coach 1987-88.
Prior to his coaching stint at Nicholls State, Rodrigue worked for two seasons as an assistant coach at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College (1991-92) where he served as offensive line coach, as well as strength and conditioning coach.
Rodrigue played at Nicholls State and helped the Colonels reach the second round of the NCAA Division I -AA playoffs in 1986, as well as win the 1984 Gulf Star Conference title. He also played one season at Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College prior to his career at Nicholls State, and was an all-district performer at Thibodaux High School.
Rodrigue and his wife, Deidi, have three children, Maci (19), Madden (16), and Mallori (13).
The Rodrigue File
Born: Jan. 2, 1965, in Thibodaux, La.
Education:
Nicholls State ’88, bachelor’s degree in health & physical education (minor in social studies)
Southern Mississippi ’90, master’s degree in educational administration and supervision
Collegiate Playing Experience:
One year, offensive line, Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Junior College
Three years, offensive line, Nicholls State
Coaching Experience:
Nicholls State — student assistant, 1987-88
Southern Mississippi — graduate assistant, 1989-90
Pearl River [Miss.] CC — assistant coach, 1991-92
Nicholls State — assistant coach, 1993-98
Southern Mississippi — assistant coach, 1999-07
South Alabama — assistant coach, 2008-
Family: Wife, Deidi; Two daughters, Maci (19) and Mallori (13), one son Madden (16)
