Former Holy Cross Defensive Coordinator Rodgers Coaching in Super Bowl

Thursday, February 04, 2016

Joe Calabro, GoLocalWorcester Sports Team

Richard Rodgers, photo courtesy of Holy Cross

Richard Rodgers, former Holy Cross football defensive coordinator will take the field on Sunday for the Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. Rodgers is currently the assistant defensive backs coach for Carolina.

Rodgers joined Carolina in 2012 as the assistant special teams coach before being promoted to special teams coordinator halfway through the season. Rodgers held that job through 2014 before moving over to the secondary this season.

Rodgers at Holy Cross

Rodgers spent seven years on the Holy Cross coaching staff from 2005-2011, serving as the defensive coordinator for his final six season.

During the 2011 season, Rodgers' defense allowed only 20 points per game, the fewest that any Holy Cross team had allowed since 1992.

During the 2009 season, Rodgers helped Holy Cross to the Patriot League championship with a defense that ranked second in the conference in both points allowed (21.8 per game) and passing yards allowed (211.7 per game).

Holy Cross had 20 selections to the All-Patriot League teams in Rodgers final four seasons.

Prior to Holy Cross

Before Rodgers came to Holy Cross, he coached collegiately at New Mexico State, Portland State, San Jose State and Diablo Valley Community College.

Rodgers also served as a coaching intern with the Oakland Raiders in 1996.

Rodgers Playing Career

Rodgers is a 1992 graduate of the University of California, where he was a two-time second team All-Pacific-10 Conference selection from 1980 to 1984.

Rodgers was a special teams captain for the Golden Bears for three seasons and called "The Play" in the huddle to beat Stanford in 1982. In the play, Rodgers was he second and fourth player to handle he ball on the five lateral last play touchdown return.

Carolina Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera was a teammate of Rodgers at Cal from 1980-83.

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