Skip Roderick Explained

Skip Roderick
Fullname:Arthur D. Roderick
Birth Place:Springfield, Pennsylvania, United States
Position:Midfielder
Collegeyears1:1970–1973
College1:Elizabethtown Blue Jays
Years1:1974
Clubs1:Philadelphia Atoms
Caps1:5
Goals1:0
Years2:1975
Clubs2:Pittsburgh Miners
Years3:1976
Clubs3:New Jersey Americans
Caps3:18
Goals3:1
Years4:1976–1977
Clubs4:Sligo Rovers
Years5:1977–1978
Clubs5:New Jersey Americans
Caps5:35
Goals5:0
Years6:1978–1980
Clubs6:Philadelphia Fever (indoor)
Caps6:28
Goals6:1
Years7:1979
Clubs7:New Jersey Americans
Caps7:24
Goals7:0
Manageryears1:1981
Managerclubs1:Philadelphia Fever (interim)
Manageryears2:1982
Managerclubs2:Philadelphia Fever (interim)
Manageryears3:1983–2023
Managerclubs3:Elizabethtown Blue Jays
Manageryears4:2015–2016
Managerclubs4:Ocean City Nor'easters (assistant)
Manageryears5:2021
Managerclubs5:Ocean City Nor'easters (assistant)

Arthur "Skip" Roderick is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and the American Soccer League. He is the head coach of the NCAA Division III Elizabethtown College men's soccer team.

Playing career

As a youth, Roderick had played for the Delco youth club. He attended Elizabethtown College, graduating in 1974. In 1974, he played a single season with the Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League.[1] The Atoms released him during the off-season and although he received an offer from the Portland Timbers, he signed with the Pittsburgh Miners of the American Soccer League instead.[2] In 1976, he moved to the New Jersey Americans for a single season.

Roderick signed for Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland in December 1976 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1976/1222/Pg004.html#Ar00401.

He returned to the United States to play the 1977 season with the New Jersey Americans. He played two seasons (1978–1980) with the Philadelphia Fever of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Roderick also played for the Philadelphia Ukrainians and Elizabeth S.C. in the German American Soccer League.

Coaching career

Roderick became interim head coach of the Philadelphia Fever for the last three games of the 1980–1981 season. In February 1982, the Philadelphia Fever fired head coach Walter Chyzowych and elevated Roderick to interim head coach.[3]

In 1983, Roderick returned to Elizabethtown College to become head coach of the college's soccer team. In 1989, Skip coached the Blue Jays to the NCAA Division III title. Roderick was often offered positions at larger schools, UVA for example, but always stayed with his alma mater. Coach Roderick also maintains Elizabethtown Soccer Camp, the longest running soccer day camp in the United States. Roderick was awarded the 2015 George W. Kirchner Award for his leadership and contribution to athletics in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.[4] On October 24, 2015, Roderick recorded his 500th victory for the Blue Jays, becoming only the 7th DIII coach and 12th in all divisions to reach the milestone, with a 3–0 drubbing against Drew University.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://philadelphiaatoms.com/history3.htm Philadelphia Atoms History
  2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19750524&id=x3AcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5lUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1917,3366912 Miners Reunite Dynamic Duo
  3. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19820217&id=RU4NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=km0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2209,3762687 Last-place Fever fire coach
  4. Web site: Skip Roderick wins the 2015 George W. Kirchner Award Sports lancasteronline.com.