Cale Rodriguez of Redlands, Calif., last week became the fourth Peninsula College men’s soccer head coach, hired to lead the Pirate men in the fall of 2015.

Rodriguez is leaving his position as the assistant coach at University of Redlands — where he coached from 2012-2015 — to take the helm to lead the Pirates, winners of three NWAC championships and six West Division titles. He also served as an assistant coach at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas from 2011-2012.

Rodriguez will be Peninsula’s fourth men’s coach, following groundwork established by Jeff Pitman for P.C.’s first three seasons (2000-2002), Andrew Chapman (2003-2013) and Kanyon Anderson, who coached both men’s and women’s teams in 2014.

“I am humbled and honored to take over a program that coach Chapman and coach Anderson have left in such a great position,” Rodriguez said. “The overall experience provided to students at Peninsula College is extremely impressive and I consider it a privilege to be in a position to contribute to the overall success of student-athletes. I look forward to adding to the history and tradition of Pirate soccer.”

Bringing experience

The California native also played college soccer at Redlands, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2010 and a master’s degree in higher education in 2014.

“We are very pleased to have Cale in our Pirate family,” P.C. athletic director Rick Ross said, noting the college received 35 applicants from eight countries. “We liked Cale’s experience, his passion for soccer and his fit for our college and for this community.”

Among Rodriguez’s strengths identified by the Peninsula College hiring committee was his experience as the recruiting coordinator at Redlands.

“Cale is an outstanding recruiter with broad West Coast connections — and that is a critical component of this game,” Ross said. “I’m confident he’ll know something about every high school soccer player from Alaska to Southern California, including all those here on the North Olympic Peninsula. He’s also very connected to four-year colleges where he’ll be able to help our players move on.”

Rodriguez will not only coach soccer at Peninsula, but he’ll teach physical education on a part-time faculty contract.

“My goal is for Peninsula College to be the best place in the West to play junior college soccer,” Rodriguez said. “This may seem like a lofty goal, but I strongly believe that the future of this program is very bright. ​I look forward to the challenge of competing in the NWAC and continuing the success of a program known for excellence.”