Rodd To Retire As Thunder Softball Coach

Apr 10, 2012

Wes Vork-NSO

After leading the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College softball team for the past five seasons head coach Kerry Rodd will make this his final season. Rodd told his team prior to a sweep of Vermilion Community College on Thursday of last week and he notified Athletic Director Keith Turner and school President Larry Anderson of his decision to retire at the end of the season following the game.

“It has been an unbelievable run,” said Rodd. “We went from no gym, no uniforms, no equipment, nothing to a solid program and I am so proud of that.”

The Thunder started slow this season, but they have reeled off 3 straight wins and are 3-2 in the MCAC Northern Division. However, wins and losses have nothing to do with the reason Rodd has decided to retire.

“I have been doing this an awful long time,” Rodd commented. “There comes a time where you need to evaluate things and I have done that. It is time for me to move along and let someone else come in. I hope that we can see this program move to another level.”

The Thunder reached national prominence in their second season when they were ranked #4 in the nation and beat four teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation. That season they were led by Stacie Miller who led the nation in hitting for two seasons in a row.

“That was a pretty special group,” Rodd recalled. “We had a bit of everything and had things broken right who knows what could have happened.”

Under Rodd’s direction the Thunder softball program has continually posted strong seasons with local talent and players who have grown up playing ball in northern Minnesota.

“Our program in softball has been built almost all on just local kids and I am proud of that,” Rodd remarked. “The school has been so supportive us and I couldn’t speak more highly of what a great opportunity it is for local kids to come and play ball here in town.”

While Rodd made the announcement to the team last week it was an emotional night for his players and himself.

“It was tough because these young people become family,” suggested Rodd. “To make it more difficult is the fact that my niece is playing for us and I have coached her through the youth ranks since she was young and to see how hard she took it made it even more difficult, but it is time for me to move on and she understood that.”

Rodd leaves a program that has had one All-American (Miller) and nearly three others reach the pinnacle of playing at the NJCAA level. Megan Johnson, Anna Engelmeier and Lisa Muehlberger all made All-Region and came up just short of being named All-Americans.

“I think that is one of the things I am most proud of,” Rodd said. “These young ladies have been part of a special program and for us to have so many kids reach that level in such a short amount of time is pretty neat.”

As to what the future is for Rodd? Coaching is probably still something that will be in the fold.

“I have been coaching every year for 30 years whether in softball or baseball,” stated Rodd. “I don’t see myself just walking away from the sport. I am sure I will be around somehow. I was lucky enough to coach both my daughters who went on to play college ball at St. Olaf. My niece, Tiffani went on to play at Concordia St. Paul with Sammi Mattson and I coach both of them in the summer and now having Denise, my other niece play for me has been the best thing I could have ever had.”

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com