Cuyahoga's Mark Rodriguez Named OCCAC AD of the Year

Cuyahoga Community College's Mark Rodriguez has been named the OCCAC Athletic Director of the Year in the OCCAC.
Cuyahoga Community College's Mark Rodriguez has been named the OCCAC Athletic Director of the Year in the OCCAC.

By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information

Cleveland, OH---Cuyahoga Community College's Mark Rodriguez has been named the 2012-13 Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Athletic Director of the Year.

"I am proud to be recognized as the AD of the Year in the OCCAC," Rodriguez said. "I have been able to work with many outstanding people in the conference over the years to try and improve the student athletes experience."

Rodriguez oversaw a softball team that captured the OCCAC and district championships to qualify for nationals, and he oversaw a baseball team that earned a share of the OCCAC championship.

Rodriguez has been the Director of Student Life, Athletics and Recreation at Cuyahoga for 24 years. During that time, he has supported various sports the college has offered including wrestling, men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’s cross country, bowling, softball, baseball, and men’s soccer. He has led the college through Title IX and increasing opportunities for female students through the addition of women’s cross country in 1992 and softball in 1994. He has served the OCCAC in various capacities such as treasurer, secretary, men’s soccer chair, baseball chair and softball chair. He has also served the NJCAA region as wrestling chair. Some of the highlights of his career so far are:

- 1991 Men’s Bowling team – 2nd place National Finish
- 1991 Wrestling team – 6th place National Finish
- 1995 Women’s Cross Country team – 6th place National Finish, also 5th best team GPA.
- 1999 Women’s Cross Country team – 4th place National Finish
- 2004 Softball Team – 6th place National Finish
- 2013 – Baseball and Softball teams – Ohio Community College Champions
- 2013 – Softball team – NJCAA Region XII Champions, national qualifiers
- 2004 - Led the building of an on campus softball field
- 2012-present – leading the renovation of the on campus baseball field, soccer practice and game fields
- In addition to athletics, Rodriguez oversees the student life office that supports student clubs and organizations, diversity programs, and the student leadership program. Also he oversees the recreation department which serves the students, faculty, staff and the community with open recreation and noncredit class activities.