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Rodney Rothoff                  Position: Head Cross Country Coach Alma Mater: Methodist College

Following a successful first year as Tennessee's women's cross country coach, Rodney Rothoff is returning for his second campaign in 2001 with hopes of building on that success. In his first year at the helm of the Lady Vol distance program, Rothoff saw Sharon Dickie become Tennessee's first cross country All-American since 1989 and also saw the UT team improve its standing at the Southeastern Conference Championships. During the track season, Rothoff also oversaw Dickie's second career All-America honor, as she became the first Lady Vol to finish in the top eight of the indoor 5,000 meters.

Rothoff came to Knoxville during the summer of 2000 after a stint as the cross country coach and track and field assistant at Clemson University. At CU, Rothoff worked with the Tigers' middle distance runners, sprinters, jumpers and throwers and served as recruiting and travel coordinator while aiding with home meet management. Rothoff also worked with the compliance and academic counseling offices and taught courses in the Clemson education department.

During Rothoff's time at Clemson, he led the cross country team to its highest regional ranking in seven years and coached two All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections during his tenure. Rothoff's cross country team was also a recipient of 1998 All-American Cross Country Team honors from the Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association (WICCCA).

In addition, Rothoff also helped the track and field team to an ACC indoor crown in 1999 and a runner-up finish at the outdoor championship. With the Tigers, Rothoff helped coach seven All-ACC track and field selections as well as 10 NCAA All-Americans. One of those All-Americans, Nikkie Bouyer, finished ninth in the 400m hurdles at the 1999 USATF National Championships

Before joining the staff at Clemson, Rothoff was the head men's and women's track and field coach and head cross country coach at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. At UALR, Rothoff began as a graduate assistant during the 1990-91 season before becoming the first full-time head coach in the program's history while overseeing the team's move to Division I competition. Among his duties with the Trojans were oversight of all aspects of coaching and training for distance, sprint and field event athletes. He was also responsible for budgeting, fundraising, academic progress and community service until the end of his tenure with the Trojans in July 1997.

In cross country, the Trojans finished second in the Sun Belt in 1996 and finished third at the NCAA Region IV Championship that year. The team also received academic All-America honors from WICCCA in 1995 and 1996.

Rothoff experienced a successful stint at UALR with the track and field teams where he saw his team win Sun Belt Conference indoor track and field titles in 1994, 1996 and 1997, in addition to the outdoor crown in 1996. The team was also the outdoor runner-up in 1994, 1995 and 1997. For his efforts, Rothoff was chosen the Sun Belt Women's Track and Field Coach of the Year in 1994, 1996 and 1997. The four Sun Belt championships were the first for Arkansas-Little Rock in any sport.

At UALR, Rothoff coached a total of 51 Sun Belt champions as well as 102 all-conference picks. He also tutored five NCAA All-Americans and eight NCAA All-Region selections for cross country. On the national stage, he guided the school's first national champion in any sport, as Dawn Williams-Sewer won the 800m at the 1997 indoor championship. Williams-Sewer, with Rothoff's assistance, would go on to compete at the 1996 Olympics and advance to the semifinals in the 800m.

The UALR team's stature in the NCAA Championship also grew under Rothoff as the team moved from a finish of 31st at the 1996 indoor championship to a mark of 17th in 1997. At the outdoor meet, the team jumped from 31st in 1996 to 26th in 1997.

In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Rothoff volunteered with the 1996 Olympic Games as well as with the Arkansas Special and Senior Olympics. He also served as the founder and meet director for the Trojan Cross Country Classic while developing and directing the Bennigan's Shamrock 5K, the largest road race in Little Rock, Ark. In 1997, Rothoff served as the meet director for the Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championship.

A 1990 graduate of Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C., Rothoff was a four-year letterwinner, team captain and national qualifier with both the cross country and track and field teams. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Methodist after graduating from Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Va.