Oscar Rodriguez is going through a lot of changes.
One of the latest additions to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football staff, Rodriguez has been moving his family from California to Tennessee - a process that won't be complete until the summer. He also had hip surgery recently, and the Mocs' new inside linebackers coach admitted he has been "frustrated" somewhat because he hasn't been able to work with the same energy to which he's accustomed.
But he sees an upside, too.
"The thing is, it's helped me grow as a coach," he said. "It's really been good for me to be able to sit back, reflect, and look at things from a different light. I guess that's why they call them growing pains, right?
"But that's what I came here for, to grow as a person and a coach, and I've already been experiencing that."
Rodriguez has already dealt with change in his career, gaining experience with several different programs the past eight years. He was defensive coordinator at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College and then NCAA Division II member Emporia State (Kan.) University before going back to the junior college ranks in Kansas at Garden City and finally to NCAA Division III member LaVerne (Calif.), where he spent the past three seasons.
Mocs defensive coordinator Matt Feeney, who took over that position in the offseason, and second-year head coach Tom Arth appreciate what Rodriguez has added.
"We're really fortunate to have Oscar here," Arth said. "He brings so much knowledge and experience. Most of his career has been coordinating defense at a very successful rate at some great places, and he's meant a lot to Matt. Having that type of voice, that type of mind in the room has been really beneficial to Matt and our defensive staff, but he's a really good football coach.
"I know he's an energy guy, bouncing around and coaching by example, but he hasn't been able to do that with his hip, so it's forced him to discover some new ways of teaching."
Rodriguez said the change has been "really good."
"I've been calling plays the last eight, nine years, so it's really helped me take a step back, observe, reflect and be a lot more patient with our kids," Rodriguez said. "Sometimes as a coordinator, you have to take the role of the bad guy so much that your intensity goes up. Naturally now as a position coach, with my hip it's allowed me to take a step back and help me grow to where I think a little bit more when I talk.
"It's made me a better teacher."
The position group he's working with is the one probably hit hardest by graduation at UTC this year. Gone are 2016 All-Southern Conference linebacker Dale Warren, Tae Davis and T.J. Jenkins, leaving Tavon Lawson and Marshall Cooper as the only players back with experience at the position this spring.
The staff is high on redshirt freshmen Zach Feaster and Jahsari Patterson, as well as incoming freshmen Ty Boeck, Simon Miskelley and Nyvin Nelson, but they're going to have to learn quickly in order to have a chance to contribute this season.
"They're going to need a coach like Coach Rodriguez to help develop them and grow them very quickly," Feeney said.
Lawson, the team's leading tackler before injuries derailed his junior season in 2017, said Rodriguez has made him the leader at his position. It's a part of the changing of styles.
"I've tried to take on the role, take on the responsibility of helping him with the system also, because it's his first time, too," Lawson said. "It's been good; we're learning at the same time.
"He's helped. I've been able to perfect my craft more and work on what I need to work on at linebacker, and now I'm confident and playing faster, because there's no doubt in my mind."
Amazing what a little change will do.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.