Ignacio Rodriguez fulfilled a goal high school athletes dream about. As a senior at Malibu High School (MHS) in 2001, the Sharks won the CIF Division V boys soccer championship. It was a moment he will never forget. Now, 14 years later, Rodriguez has achieved another desire — one which will rank right up there with the CIF championship.
After serving as an assistant coach for the past six years at MHS, Rodriguez was recently promoted to head coach of the Malibu boys soccer program. The proud alumnus takes over for Julian Wright, who resigned last month.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be the head coach. Obviously, I’m very passionate about soccer and I have been very involved for the past six years as an assistant,” Rodriguez said. “I love the program. It gave me a lot as a player when I was in high school. I definitely want to give back to the high school and the soccer program.”
Born in Seville, Spain, and raised in Madrid, Rodriguez instantly fell in love with the beautiful game at age six. When he was younger, he watched his hometown team, Real Madrid, compete at the highest level, led by his favorite player, Raúl.
He moved with his family to Malibu in 1995 and entered Malibu Middle School in seventh grade. Then, it was on to high school, where Rodriguez played varsity soccer for three years, culminating with a league championship and CIF title in 2001.
As the Sharks’ right midfielder, Rodriguez played an integral role in the team’s success. Malibu rallied from a 2-0 deficit with less than two minutes to play in the CIF semifinals to defeat defending champion Pasadena Polytechnic School in penalty kicks. The Sharks used that momentum to dominate Ontario Christian School in the CIF final, 5-0, to capture the school’s first-ever CIF title.
The team’s camaraderie and respect for one another formed the backbone of their championship run. Rodriguez hopes to use that as an example of what a team can do when they believe in each other and become a family.
“We had a very special group of guys. We were best friends on and off the field. That was a big element of our success on the field because of what we did off the field,” said Rodriguez. “We had each other’s backs. I really make that a big point to our guys now, and I can’t stress that enough. They are in this together. The closer you are on and off the field, the better results you will have.
“You also need a strong commitment level. We shared a passion to do great things. We were obsessed with winning CIF and we made that our priority. We had passion and desire inside that ignites a flame, which takes you to the next level. Those are elements to making a successful team.”
Rodriguez, 31, credits former Malibu coaches Lloyd Kinnear and Julian Wright with instilling in him character traits and philosophical mindsets, which have enhanced his knowledge of soccer.
“Lloyd was very high on how you look and how you came on and off the field and that you were a part of something bigger. His style was not so physical, but rather let the ball do the work,” he said. “Julian brought a fresh out-of-the-box thinking. He shared alternative ways of coaching.”
The Sharks were 7-12-1 this past season after having won the league title in 2014. Building a strong foundation will be the first priority before the season arrives on Dec. 1 against Brentwood School.
“We are a big soccer community. I would like to see consistency,” Rodriguez said. “Coaches have come and gone. I would like to see players stay here and go to Malibu rather than go to Oaks Christian, Viewpoint or other schools. We have a very good program. I want to grow it slowly and steadily and, in the long run, have a team that is competitive in league and CIF year in and year out.”
From player to assistant coach and now to head coach, the time has come for Rodriguez to impart his wisdom on to his beloved Malibu program.
“I have a lot of pride. I want to play a beautiful passing game that the fans and players will enjoy. I want people to see that we can play top-notch soccer,” Rodriguez said. “I practiced and played on that field with sweat and tears and put in hard work for my high school. I am representing Malibu High and I want to inspire the current players to feel the same way. That’s the way it should be.”