Developed by Mark Rodel:
Mark has over 30 years of coaching and playing experience at the regional, national, and international level. He began his coaching career at 15 while training as an aspiring player, began apprentice coaching to help support his development as a player with the Rudman's.
Mark was recruited from South Africa to attended and compete for Weber State University (NCAA DI), where he developed as a tennis player and cultivated a desire for lifelong competition and learning. (Subsequently earning #1 open tennis ranking in State at 40, elite level master cyclist competing in national championships, qualifying for the world cycling championships, and continuing to earn MBA, Masters of Counseling , Ed.S degrees).
He is a certified member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) where he holds an Elite level certification. His experience includes NCAA Division 1 Head Men’s Tennis coach, Director of Tennis at the Sun Valley Resort (ID), coach at Eagle Ridge Club (UT), and coach at The Tokeneke Club (CT).
Mark's 5-year tenure as the Head Men's Tennis Coach at Idaho State University (NCAA DI) can be highlighted through a culture of overall excellence, highlighted but not limited to the following:
- Raising the bar and fostering exponential growth is evidenced by 10 of 11 graduating players earning master’s degrees, including 2 Harvard Law school candidates.
- 2019 culminated in a 5-year trajectory of team improvement that saw ISU move into a top 4 BSC team reaching the semifinal and a team best performance in over 20 years.
- 2018 saw the doubles team of David Felix and Peter Trhac earn a No. 1 doubles ranking in the Mountain Region and a No. 39 national ranking. They became the 1st in ISU history to qualify for the ITA All-American Championship.
- 2017 Mark was recognized as the Co-Big Sky Coach of the Year after turning around the program within 3 seasons. including going 12-9 overall and 7-4 in the BSC. All-conference nominations with Sebastian Edin, and receiving the ITA All-Academic Team award.
- 2015-2016 and prior were foundational in establishing a culture of success on and off the court.
"I am forever grateful to all the players during this period and prior as an assistant coach for trusting the process".
