Page 46
Riverview/Apollo Beach Edition
Volume 20, Issue 5
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HEATHER RODRIGUEZ.):
TONY RODRIGUEZ TAKES OVER RIVERVIEW FOOTBALL PROGRAM AS HEAD COACH The Riverview High School Sharks were looking for new blood after struggling last football season with a 2-8 record. Riverview native Tony Rodriguez is the perfect fit for the program due to being an assistant coach for 15 years and having ties to the community. The 1994 East Bay High School graduate and former offensive lineman for the Indians always wanted to be a head coach but, admittedly, came in second often when he was a candidate for other jobs, until now. Rodriguez was an assistant coach briefly for Riverview in 201819 under then-Head Coach William Mosel in a record-setting season. In January, he finally got the call that he was hoping for. He said that he was fired up, jumping in the air and fist-pumping when he got the phone call from Principal Brian Spiro offering him the job. “When the opportunity to work here became available, I applied and went through the interview process, and I won for a change,” joked Rodriguez. “I’ve gotten told ‘No’ a hundred times at many different places and this has been the one time that they’ve finally said ‘Yes’ to me. I’m blessed they picked me and I’m excited for the opportunity.” Rodriguez, in his 14th year of teaching, currently teaches weightlifting at River-
tools for life and leave as better people, and he hopes that they have a great high school experience. He also wants to get his players into college, if they desire, and win a state championship. The team is currently in the midst of its spring season. They will play their intersquad ‘Black vs Blue’ scrimmage on Thursday, May 12 and their spring jamboree against LenRiverview High School hired Tony Rodriguez as its head football nard on Thursday, May 19 at coach in January. view. Most of his school career was spent “Everything East Bay. at East Bay as a social studies teacher, I’ve postured “Coming into this situation, where he also began coaching football as for, every the expectations for a firstTony Rodriguez was an assistant coach a running back and offensive line coach. move I’ve briefly for Riverview High School in 2018-19 year head coach aren’t very In 2020, he and his wife, Heather, who he made in my under then-Head Coach William Mosel in a high because you have to come record-setting season. met when they attended East Bay, decided coaching cain and establish things, change to make a drastic change and move to Al- reer, has always been to make it to where the culture and whatnot,” said Rodriguez. abama, where Rodriquez coached at Enter- I was acquiring knowledge to jockey for “We’re going to work hard, not thinking prise High School as a receiver coach un- a position to become a head coach,” said that we are in our first year. Our approach der former Apopka High School legendary Rodriguez. “I wanted to get around good is that we are going to win them all. We Head Coach Rick Darlington. They moved programs to learn what it takes to be a are going to take each game, one game at back to Hillsborough County after foot- big-time program. I’m definitely a person a time, and try to go 1-0 each week. And at ball season because of a rule that required that has a growth mindset, and I’ve always the end of the season, we’re going to let the Heather, a Florida Virtual School teacher, tried to learn from others and be a sponge chips fall where they may—make our own to teach in-state. He spent last season in in hopes that one day I’d have my own destiny, so to speak.” Manatee County as an offensive coordina- team and apply those things and those exRodriguez is looking to add coaches to tor/quarterback coach for Parrish Commu- periences to this program.” his staff. If you live in the area and are nity, a school that was in the midst of its Rodriguez hopes that when his players interested in coaching at Riverview, reach first year as a varsity program. come through his program, they will learn out to him at 813-815-0310.
