<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Joey-Rodriguez.png"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-8267" title="Joey Rodriguez" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Joey-Rodriguez-300x219.png" alt="" width="300" height="219" /></a>VCU legend Joey Rodriguez has officially begun the next step of his basketball career, accepting a position with the University of Central Florida as an assistant video coordinator.
Rodriguez will join the Knights as they transition from CUSA to Big East basketball under head coach Donnie Jones.
"I always wanted to coach," Rodriguez told UCF in an official statement. "I thought it would be good to get into it early. I want to be a head coach at a young age. I think the younger I start, the better it will be for me in the future."
A Merritt Island, Florida native, Rodriguez will leave a professional career in Turkey to return to just an hour west of his hometown.
"It was hard to walk away from playing," Rodriguez said. "I had a contract to go back to Turkey. The opportunity at UCF came along and it was perfect."
Rodriguez ranks 2nd all-time in steals at VCU, 3rd in career assists.
"I have known Joey for years and have always respected him as a player and as a person," Jones told UCF. "If you watched Joey play at VCU, or even back in high school, you just knew that he would be a coach one day. He loves basketball and is so knowledgeable about the game and we are thrilled to have him join our basketball family."
Rodriguez will join the Knights as they transition from CUSA to Big East basketball under head coach Donnie Jones.
"I always wanted to coach," Rodriguez told UCF in an official statement. "I thought it would be good to get into it early. I want to be a head coach at a young age. I think the younger I start, the better it will be for me in the future."
A Merritt Island, Florida native, Rodriguez will leave a professional career in Turkey to return to just an hour west of his hometown.
"It was hard to walk away from playing," Rodriguez said. "I had a contract to go back to Turkey. The opportunity at UCF came along and it was perfect."
Rodriguez ranks 2nd all-time in steals at VCU, 3rd in career assists.
"I have known Joey for years and have always respected him as a player and as a person," Jones told UCF. "If you watched Joey play at VCU, or even back in high school, you just knew that he would be a coach one day. He loves basketball and is so knowledgeable about the game and we are thrilled to have him join our basketball family."
