The Rodger Molano Library

Rodger Molano August 3, 1960 – August 1, 2002 A Husband, Son, Brother, Godfather, Uncle, Nephew, Coach, Confidant, Friend and Colleague

In the twenty eight years since PCSL was founded thousands of volunteer coaches have helped tens of thousands of kids learn and play the game. Some understood soccer, few had played it and simply brought their ability to inspire and lead. Rodger Molano PCSL and BNSC coach who brought his love of the game, experience as a player and an infectious attitude that still inspires players many years later. He was forty one years old when cancer took him from the field of play.

On a recent February afternoon, six of Rodger’s former players from his BNSC travel team and Assistant Coach Diane Popejoy (Coach Dee) and Dave King gathered for a team reunion. Five other players who could not be present contributed their recollections in writing. It had been eleven years since they were on the playing field together but they were still the Dragons and there was a lot of agreement about Coach Rodger. He was "willing to take the extra effort to show everyone how to play the game the right way" and, along with Coach Dee, "brought us together as teammates and more importantly as friends."

It would be difficult to appreciate the success of this coach looking only at his far from perfect won-loss record. "It wasn’t always about the win with Coach Rodger, it was about having fun and developing our skills for future endeavors.” "No matter what, winning is not everything and as long as you do your best you are a winner." He was “all about teaching us the game and having a good time.” He had an abiding sense of fairness, an active sense of humor and cared about the well-being of each individual player. In the words of one player, "he was so proud to be our coach and I am proud to say he was my coach."

"Coach Rodger left me with a love of soccer which I still play today.” Almost all of the Dragons went on to play high school soccer. Most have continued to play as young adults. Two are coaching a BNSC team and two are assisting with the hopes of becoming coaches. When Rodger Molano volunteered to coach his first PCSL team (in response to the suggestion of a co-worker) he opened an extraordinary chapter in his life. "He gave us kids an opportunity to fall in love with the game and create a lifetime of amazing memories from it."

In the Fall of 2005 the League initiated an ambitious program of training for PCSL coaches to deliver outstanding skill development and our child-centered philosophy to all players. In 2006 the Molano family made a generous donation towards the advancement of coach education.

The League will use these funds to initiate the Rodger Molano Library which will supply educational material for the training of both PCSL and BNSC coaches. All material will be available at the League’s office for coaches to check out. Future donations to the library will keep publications current and be directed towards licensing of coaches. The League is a not-for-profit organization. If anyone would like to make a donation to the library in the form of cash or literature please contact the office.