Shakey Rodriguez, a mentor to many, passes away at 67
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
MIAMI. FL – Marcos “Shakey” Rodriguez is a name synonymous with basketball success in the Miami/South Florida area.
The legendary coach suffered an brain aneurysm on Tuesday before dying on Wednesday night.
Rodriguez was 67.
His death shook the basketball community in South Florida and across the Sunshine State. Former players, mentees, and opposing coaches were devastated by the news.
He was highly respected by everyone.
The first encounter with this Cuban was during an event in Georgia. His heavy Spanglish accent reminded me of my dad as he coached an AAU organization from Miami. When I introduced myself after the game and told him my pops was Cuban, Rodriguez embraced me like one of his own players.
Last season, I watched him coach Mater Academy at the City of Palms. We talked after the game and it was like catching up with a family member. Rodriguez has always been a gracious person off the court and an intense tactician on the sideline. These two traits along with winning, helped him become a legendary coach Dade County.
Rodriguez helped put South Florida on the basketball map in the late 1980’s as the head coach for Miami High and later for Florida International University. His Miami Stingarees teams won five state championships (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1993) in seven seasons.
The Stingarees roster was loaded with Division I players former NBA first-rounder Doug Edwards; Gimel Martinez, who played at Kentucky; Jose Ramos, who played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
His success at Miami High helped open the door at FIIU. Rodriguez was named the Panthers head coach in 1995. At the time, he was the first Hispanic coach in Division I history. The team was 11-19. FIU had its first winning season (16-13) in Rodriguez’s first season.
FIU improved to a 21-8 mark, which still remains the Panthers record for total wins and winning percentage (.724). Rodriguez left FIU after going 16-14 during the 1999-2000 season. His overall winning record at FIU was 79-66.
He helped inspire so many other coaches who dared to be Division I college coaches.
Rodriguez inspired players as FIU’s head coach.
During his time there, Rodriguez had the two best players in FIU history – Carlos Arroyo and Raja Bell. Both players played in the NBA.
Arroyo told the Miami Herald, “My heart is broken [for Shakey]. He was more than a coach to a lot of us.”
Arroyo, a native of Puerto Rico, said Rodriguez recruited him the most.
“Shakey always believed in me, just like I believed in myself,” he said. “He gave me an opportunity to pursue my dreams.
“I will forever be indebted to him. Today is a sad day for our basketball family.”
It is a sad day for anyone who had a chance to be around Rodriguez.
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.