Craig Daily Press

Three months ago, Dave Rodriguez was on the bottom rung of the Moffat County soccer-coaching ladder.

Rodriguez, then an assistant to Harry Tripp for the Craig U-14 girls soccer team, couldn’t foresee the ride on the coaching carousel he was about to get on.

On June 2, Rodriguez climbed a few steps when Alegra Yager, Moffat County High School girls head soccer coach, introduced him as the new high school assistant.

Eleven days later, Yager resigned, leaving Rodriguez wondering what might come next.

The question was answered Monday.

Rodriguez was formally hired as the new MCHS varsity girls head soccer coach, completing the three-month rise from the bottom to the top of the coaching ladder.

“I went up to the high school because I was concerned with what was going on” with the girls soccer program, Rodriguez said. “(MCHS athletic director Rick Penner) said ‘I’m glad you’re here, let’s take care of this now.’ And he offered me the job.”

Rodriguez said he was looking forward to the assistant role beside Yager, so he could take his time getting adjusted to the leap from city youth league to high school.

But, he won’t have that luxury anymore.

“I figured with me being the assistant, I could take the time to find out how everything works,” he said. “But then, when she stepped down it kind of left me as an assistant without a head coach. So, I figured I’d jump in for the head coach, and hopefully I’ll find an assistant.”

Although the girls soccer season doesn’t begin until the spring, Rodriguez said the quick move up the ranks has put added pressure on him.

“Oh yeah, of course,” he said. “I don’t have the time now to observe. It’s kind of like I’m jumping right into it.”

Taking over a program that won one game last season — and needed seven to score its first goal — Rodriguez said he knows he’s got his work cut out for him.

“I want to get them training,” he said. “It’s not going to be a matter of winning or losing. I want to get them together as a team. It’s going to be a new time. I want them to forget what they’ve learned in the past and I’m going to teach them new stuff.

“We have to make a difference this year somehow.”

John Vandelinder can be reached at 875-1793 or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com