Football
Sep 20 (Sat)
8:15 p.m.
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Offensive Line
- Phone:
- 303-492-9784
Mitch Rodrigue is in his second year as the offensive line coach at Colorado, as he was hired on March 4, 2020, joining Karl Dorrell’s inaugural staff after coaching two years in the high school ranks in Alabama. He has 28 years of full-time experience in the collegiate ranks, the majority working with offensive linemen.
Rodrigue, 56, tutored the linemen to one of their better seasons in recent memory, despite starting the same five players just twice in six games due to injuries and coronavirus pandemic issues. In addition to blocking for the Pac-12 offensive player of the year, Jarek Broussard, the linemen allowed just four sacks and were called for only six penalties the entire season. Starting left tackle Will Sherman declared early for the NFL Draft and was a sixth round selection by the New England Patriots.
Prior to coming to Colorado, he coached two years at Spanish Fort High School after a seven-year stint at the University of Louisiana (Lafayette), where served as the Ragin’ Cajuns run game coordinator and offensive line coach. In his tenure in Lafayette, Rodrigue was credited with developing an offensive line that ranked among the most efficient groups in the country. In 2014, he had brothers Daniel and Mykhael Quave named to the preseason watch list for Lombardi Award – the first and only set of brothers named to a national watch list at any position.UL was 51-38 in his seven seasons there under head coach Mark Hudspeth, were co-Sun Belt Champions in 2013 and earning five bowl berths, all in the New Orleans Bowl where the Cajuns recorded a 4-1 record. He recruited Robert Hunt from Burkeville, Texas to UL; Rodrigue was his first college coach and Hunt was considered by him and many others to be the top guard in the 2020 NFL Draft – and was (39th pick overall by Miami). At UL, he also coached guard Kevin Dotson, a first-team All-American in 2019 and who was selected by Pittsburgh in the fourth round.
Prior to his seven-year run at UL, he was on the South Alabama staff for three seasons (2008-10), the school’s first foray into football. The first year he was heavily involved in the set-up of the program ahead of its inaugural season of competition in 2009; on the field, he was the Jaguars tackles and tight end coach. That position played a significant role in helping the offense average 439 yards and just under 46 points per game. Playing an assortment of opponents from the FCS, Division II and select others, USA was 17-0 over the 2009 and 2010 seasons as it prepared to enter FCS play in 2012.
Several of his players matriculated into the NFL, including Chris Clark (Houston, the most recent of six teams), Jeremy Parquet (Pittsburgh), Ryan McKee (Kansas City), Chris White (Seattle) and Daniel Quave (Dallas). Parquet earned a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII, while Clark played in Super Bowl XLVIII as a member of the Denver Broncos.His first full-time coaching position was as an assistant coach at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College (1991-92). From there, he returned to his alma mater, Nicholls State, serving as tight ends and offensive line coach as well as offensive coordinator for six seasons (1993-98). The Colonels were 0-11 in 1995, but came back with an 8-4 record the following year, one of the most improved teams in the nation and qualified for the Division I-AA (now FCS) playoffs. That same year, his offensive line blocked for Nakia Lumar, the first 1,000-yard rusher in school history. He also served at various times as Nicholls’ recruiting coordinator and was NSU’s interim head coach.
He then was a mainstay at Southern Mississippi, where he spent nine seasons (1999-2007), first coaching the running back for one year, followed by the tight ends (2000-02) and the offensive line (2003-07). A valuable member of the staff in many areas, in 2006, he was named one of Rivals.com Top 10 recruiters from a non-BCS conference. Working under head coach Jeff Bower, Southern Miss recorded several victories over teams now referred to as members of the Power 5, including Alabama, Illinois, Louisville, Nebraska, N.C. State, Oklahoma State (twice) and TCU.
The Golden Eagles won the 1999 and 2003 Conference USA titles, went to bowl games in eight of his nine seasons there, winning five including the ’99 Liberty Bowl over Colorado State (when he was and the 2000 Mobile Alabama Bowl over TCU. Southern Miss was 69-43 during his time there, with winning records all nine years; the ’99 team finished 9-3 and was ranked No. 14 in the final Associated Press poll, the highest to date in school history.
Rodrigue was an offensive lineman in college at Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Junior College for one year and at Nicholls State for three years, where he helped the Colonels win the 1984 Gulf Star Conference title along with advancing to the second round of the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. He began his coaching career at Nicholls as a student assistant for the 1987-88 seasons before coaching two years (1989-90) as a graduate assistant at Southern Miss under head coach Curley Hallman. The Golden Eagles beat Alabama, Auburn and Florida State when he was on the USM staff his first time.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Health & Physical Education from Nicholls State in 1988, also earning a minor in Social Studies; he received his master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision from Southern Mississippi in 1990.
Rodrigue was born January 2, 1965 in Thibodaux, La., and graduated from Thibodaux High School where he lettered in football and track (discus). His hobbies include spending time with family and friends, cooking, playing golf and the outdoors. He is married to the former Sherri Marcet, who hails from Mobile, Ala., and he is the father of three grown children, daughters Maci and Mallori and son Madden. (Last name is pronounced row-dreeg, but everyone calls him Coach Rod.)
AT-A-GLANCE—He has coached in 291 college games as a full-time coach (207 Division I-A/FBS, 67 I-AA/FCS and 17 assorted). He has coached in 15 bowl games (1990 All-American, 1999 Liberty, 2000 Mobile Alabama, 2002 Houston, 2003 Liberty, 2004 New Orleans, 2005 New Orleans, 2006 GMAC, 2007 PapaJohns.com, 2011 New Orleans, 2012 New Orleans, 2013 New Orleans, 2014 New Orleans, 2016 New Orleans, 2020 Alamo)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
| 1987-88 | Nicholls State | Student Assistant (Offensive Line) |
| 1989-90 | Southern Mississippi | Graduate Assistant (Offensive Line) |
| 1991-92 | Pearl River (Miss.) CC | Offensive Line |
| 1993-98 | Nicholls State | Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line & Tight Ends |
| 1999 | Southern Mississippi | Running Backs |
| 2000-02 | Southern Mississippi | Tight Ends |
| 2003-07 | Southern Mississippi | Offensive Line |
| 2008-10 | South Alabama | Tackles & Tight Ends |
| 2011-17 | Louisiana-Lafayette | Run Game Coordinator / Offensive Line |
| 2018-19 | Spanish Fort (Ala.) HS | Co-Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line |
| 2020- | Colorado | Offensive Line |
