Dec. 22, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After spending three successful seasons helping to turn around the culture and on-field performance of the University of Kentucky women’s soccer team, assistant coach Aaron Rodgers was named the next head coach of the Ohio University Bobcats, it was announced on Saturday.

“I am very excited for Aaron to get this opportunity as head coach at Ohio University,” UK head coach Jon Lipsitz said. “He has been involved with all facets of the program here at UK and I know he is ready to lead that program to great long-term success.”

Rodgers spent the last three seasons at Kentucky with an instrumental role in local recruiting and helping the goalkeepers rank among the Southeastern Conference’s best year after year. Rodgers spent many years in the SEC, helping to lead the Florida Gators to the 2008 SEC Championship, while also making stops along the way at Alabama, North Texas, South Alabama and North Florida.

Rodgers also has much experience at the club level of coaching, as he spent two years as the associate director of the Cardinal Soccer Club in Cincinnati, Ohio, as he worked extensively with players from ages 7-20.

Rodgers played soccer at the collegiate and professional levels, earning his degree and college letters from the University of North Texas as well as spending time on the pitch at Arkansas-Little Rock before going on to further his career in the United Soccer League with the Texas Toros, Dallas Rockets and Mobile Revelers.

“I know this is just the beginning of a very long and successful tenure for Aaron,” Lipsitz said. “I certainly hate to see him leave us, as he has been instrumental to our success, but we always talk to players that individual awards come from the success of the team, and this is clearly true, as we now can show that with the success of our coaching staff.”

Rodgers is a Lexington, Ky., resident and has two kids, Luke and Reese with his wife, Mandi. 

A national search for a replacement will begin immediately.