THOMASVILLE — A volunteer coach has paid his dues.

It’s time for Thomas University to pay Bobby Rodriguez.

A volunteer assistant the last couple of years, Rodriguez was recently hired as a full-time assistant coach under Mike Lee. It’s a hire Lee was thrilled to finally get done.

“We’ve been fortunate the last couple of years with coach Rodriguez helping out, doing it out of the goodness of his heart, basically,” Lee said. “He was in a position where he needed to get something done. We’re certainly in a position where we needed the help. This year it looks like the squad size is going to be bigger than ever. It’s a little difficult to run 30-something guys all by yourself.”

Rodriguez, who was a one-time assistant coach in the Baltimore Orioles organization at the Class A level, is equally as excited about the opportunity to assist the team on a permanent basis.

“It’s a big satisfaction, going from two years of volunteering to finally coming up with a position,” Rodriguez said. “I appreciate the president and Mike Lee and everybody who made it possible to come around. I know it was something that wasn’t foreseen, or what have you. They came up with it. They made it happen.”

Lee added: “I think it’s going to help the players. I think we’re going to be able to develop a little bit more, having consistent help out there. It helps me coaching wise because it’s always good to have somebody to bounce things off of, get a different perspective on things.”

During Rodriguez’s time with the Orioles, he was a hitting and outfield instructor and served as a first-base and third-base coach. With his solid coaching resume, Rodriguez’s knowledge should be of huge benefit to the Night Hawks program.

“He’s been a huge help the past couple of years,” Lee said. “Trying to work around his schedule, I think it’ll be a little easier on him. I’ll have a little bit more access to him. I think it’s really going to work.”

Rodriguez added: “I’ll be able to do what I’ve got to do.

Last year, the Night Hawks finished 24-23. To improve upon that mark, Lee knew the value of getting a full-time assistant coach. That’s how he approached TU president Gary Bonvillian and the administration responded.

“The administration has been supportive of what we’re trying to do in developing the programs and getting them where we think they ought to be,” Lee noted. “This is certainly a big step. Now, we’ve got to make things happen. We’ve got to show it’s worth the investment in what we’re trying to get done.”