Arthur "Skip" Roderick is a retired American

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

player who played professionally in the

North American Soccer League The North American Soccer League may refer to: *North American Soccer League (1968–1984), a former Division I league *North American Soccer League (2011–2017) The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional men's soccer league b ...

, Major Indoor Soccer League and the American Soccer League. He is the head coach of the NCAA Division III

Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown College (informally E-town) is a private college in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. History Founding and early years Founded in 1899, Elizabethtown College is one of many higher learning institutions founded in the 19th century by c ...

men's soccer team.

Playing career

As a youth, Roderick had played for the Delco youth club. He attended

, graduating in 1974. In 1974, he played a single season with the

Philadelphia Atoms The Philadelphia Atoms were an American soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League (NASL). They played from 1973 to 1976, at Veterans Stadium (1973–75) and Franklin Field (1976). The club's colors wer ...

of the

. The Atoms released him during the off-season and although he received an offer from the

Portland Timbers The Portland Timbers are an American professional men's soccer club based in Portland, Oregon. The Timbers compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The Timbers have played their home games at P ...

, he signed with the

Pittsburgh Miners The Pittsburgh Miners were a professional soccer club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the American Soccer League in 1975 but folded at the end of the season after finishing with a record of 1-16-3. Joe Luxbacher was the to ...

of the American Soccer League instead. In 1976, he moved to the

New Jersey Americans New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

for a single season. Roderick signed for

Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Ruagairí Shligigh) is an Irish professional football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club is based in Sligo in the west of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 ...

in the League of Ireland in December 197

He returned to the United States to play the 1977 season with the New Jersey Americans. He played two seasons (1978–1980) with the Philadelphia Fever (MISL), Philadelphia Fever of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Roderick also played for the

Philadelphia Ukrainians The first Philadelphia Ukrainians team, also known as the "Philadelphia Tridents", Tryzub FC (Ukrainian Sports Association Philadelphia Tridents, in uk, УСО (Український Спортовий Осередок) «Тризуб» (Філ� ...

and

Elizabeth S.C. Elizabeth SC is an American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. History Elizabeth SC was founded in 1924 as Elizabeth Germans in Elizabeth, New Jersey by a group of Ge ...

in the

German American Soccer League The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is a regional soccer league consisting of semi-pro and amateur teams based in and around New York City. Established in 1923, it is one of the oldest soccer leagues in the United States and has contributed greatly ...

Coaching career

Roderick became interim head coach of the Philadelphia Fever (MISL), Philadelphia Fever for the last three games of the 1980-1981 season. In February 1982, the Philadelphia Fever (MISL), Philadelphia Fever fired head coach

Walter Chyzowych Walter Chyzowych ( ua, Володимир Чижович, Volodymyr Chyzhovych) (April 20, 1937 – September 2, 1994) was a Ukrainian-born football (soccer), soccer player who played for Philadelphia Ukrainians, Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals a ...

and elevated Roderick to interim head coach. In 1983, he became the head coach of the

soccer team. In 1989, Skip coached the Blue Jays to the NCAA Division III title. Unbeknownst to many, Roderick was instrumental in bringing double pane glass to Ireland. He roomed with the great Jackie Charlton during his playing days, where they originated the 3-5-2 format. Roderick was often offered positions at larger schools, UVA for example, but always stayed with his alma mater. Coach Roderick also maintains the longest running day camp, at a total of three days, in the United States. The camp is known as Elizabethtown Soccer Camp. Roderick won the 2015 George W. Kirchner Award for his leadership and contribution to athletics in

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Lancaster County (; Pennsylvania Dutch: Lengeschder Kaundi), sometimes nicknamed the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the south central part of Pennsylvania. ...

. On October 24, 2015, Roderick recorded his 500th victory for the Blue Jays, becoming only the 7th DIII coach and 12th in all divisions to reach the milestone, with a 3–0 drubbing against Drew University.

References

External links

NASL/MISL stats

Elizabethtown College coaching profile

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roderick, Skip 1966 births American soccer coaches American soccer players American expatriate soccer players Soccer players from Pennsylvania American Soccer League (1933–1983) players German-American Soccer League players Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) coaches Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) players College men's soccer coaches in the United States New Jersey Americans (ASL) players North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players Philadelphia Atoms players Philadelphia Fever (MISL) players Pittsburgh Miners players Sligo Rovers F.C. players Elizabeth S.C. players League of Ireland players Living people People from Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania Elizabethtown College alumni Association football midfielders Sportspeople from Delaware County, Pennsylvania USL League Two coaches Expatriate association footballers in the Republic of Ireland American expatriate sportspeople in Ireland