Rod Underwood

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rod Underwood

| fullname =

| image =

| image_size =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

| currentclub =

| height =

| position = Midfielder

| collegeyears1 = 1985–1989

| college1 = Furman Paladins

| years1 = 1992–1996

| clubs1 = New Mexico Chiles

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1997–1998

| clubs2 = Albuquerque Geckos

| caps2 = 11

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 1999

| clubs3 = South Carolina Shamrocks

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| manageryears1 = 1994 | managerclubs1 = New Mexico Chiles (player-coach)

| manageryears2 = 1997–1998 | managerclubs2 = Albuquerque Geckos (player-coach)

| manageryears3 = 1999 | managerclubs3 = South Carolina Shamrocks (player-coach)

| manageryears4 = 2007–2008 | managerclubs4 = Portland Timbers (assistant coach)

| manageryears5 = 2009 | managerclubs5 = Cleveland City Stars

| manageryears6 = 2010 | managerclubs6 = North East Stars

| manageryears7 = 2012 | managerclubs7 = Mount Aureol

| manageryears8 = 2017–2018 | managerclubs8 = Montego Bay United F.C.

| manageryears9 = 2021 | managerclubs9 = Stumptown AC

| manageryears10 = 2022–2024 |managerclubs10 = Chattanooga FC

}}

Rod Underwood (born in New Orleans, United States) is an American former soccer player and coach.

Playing career

Underwood began playing soccer at the college level with Furman University in 1985. He became the first African American to play soccer at Furman University.[http://www.clevelandcitystars.com/news/377-get-to-know-rod-underwood-what-drives-citys-new-man Rod Underwood: What Drives City's New Man] While at Furman he was the leading goal scorer, a three-time all-conference selection, and the conference tournament MVP as a senior. In his final year at Furman Underwood earned his bachelor's degree in 1989. As a player Underwood spent time with New Mexico Chiles, Albuquerque Geckos, and New Orleans Gamblers.{{Cite web|url=http://soccerstats.us/bios/rod-underwood/|title=Rod Underwood {{!}} SoccerStats.us|website=soccerstats.us|access-date=2018-08-08}}

Underwood dedicated his high school career to the Southwest Dekalb Panthers. Although a leading goal scorer, he and his team consistently came up short, or slow, to the Stone Mountain Pirates. https://www.instagram.com/sharpphotographer/p/C8juQcxtLw0/?locale=de&hl=am-et

Management career

Underwood first began his coaching career as player-coach at New Mexico Chiles in 1994. Once he moved to Albuquerque in 1997, he led the Geckos to the USISL D-3 Pro League Championship before coaching the club through its promotion to the A-League a season later. The following season Underwood was appointed the head coach for the South Carolina Shamrocks in 1999. Following his stint with South Carolina, he was appointed the assistant coach for Georgia State University. On April 19, 2007, Portland Timbers head coach Gavin Wilkinson appointed Underwood as his assistant coach.[http://www.portlandtimbers.com/newsroom/headlines/index.html?article_id=360 Timbers round out coaching staff] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119003910/http://www.portlandtimbers.com/newsroom/headlines/index.html?article_id=360 |date=2008-01-19 }} During the 2007 USL season, he helped the Timbers finish second place in the standings and helped the club reach the semifinals in the playoffs before losing to Atlanta Silverbacks. On February 5, 2009, the Cleveland City Stars announced the hiring of Underwood to serve as the new head coach for the 2009 USL season.[http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/304626.html Cleveland names Underwood coach] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209085342/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/304626.html |date=2009-02-09 }}{{Cite web|url=http://clevelandcitystars.com:80/pro-team/front-office/319-rod-underwood-head-coach|title=Rod Underwood - Head Coach|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211190841/http://clevelandcitystars.com:80/pro-team/front-office/319-rod-underwood-head-coach|archive-date=February 11, 2009}} He became the second head coach in club history, after succeeding Martin Rennie. In preparation for the 2009 season, Underwood resolved to bring new players to the squad, notably players from Africa and MLS experienced players.[http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/321416.html USL-1 Season Preview - Part III] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421072625/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/321416.html |date=2009-04-21 }} Underwood was named head coach for North East Stars in the TT Pro League on April 16, 2010.{{Cite news|url=http://socawarriors.net/tt-pro-league/7321-underwood-stars-part-ways.html|title=Underwood, Stars part ways|last=ttproleague.com|work=Soca Warriors Online - Trinidad and Tobago Football|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en-gb}} In 2010, he joined the coaching team for the MLS side the Portland Timbers as an assistant coach for the U-16 academy team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timbers.com/news/timbers-announce-academy-coaching-staff|title=Timbers announce Academy coaching staff|date=May 21, 2012|website=Portland Timbers}}

In 2012, he went abroad to manage Mount Aureol in the Sierra Leone National First Division.{{Cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201201190723.html|title=Sierra Leone: Slifa Gets Foreign Coach|last=Jnr|first=Sahr Morris|date=2012-01-19|work=Concord Times (Freetown)|access-date=2018-08-14}} He later returned to the United States and joined the management staff of Sacramento Republic FC in the United Soccer League in the capacity of an assistant coach.{{Cite news|url=https://www.stumptownfooty.com/2015/1/17/7563931/portland-timbers-to-fill-two-vacancies|title=Former Timbers Coaches Join Sacramento|last=Gates, Conwell|first=Ryan, William|work=Stumptown Footy|access-date=2018-08-14}} In 2017, he was named the head coach for Montego Bay United F.C. in the National Premier League.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/American-Underwood-to-take-reins-of-MBU_90499|title=American Underwood to take reins of MBU|last=Reid|first=Paul|website=Jamaica Observer|publisher=Jamaica Observer|access-date=2018-08-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://isoccerpath.com/aboutus/rod-underwood/|title=Rod Underwood - Coaching Director – iSoccerPath|website=isoccerpath.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-14}} In 2019, he was appointed the director of club relations for iSoccerPath.{{Cite web|last=Harvey|first=Shannon|date=2019-04-16|title=iSoccerPath Hires Director of Club Relations, Rod Underwood|url=https://isoccerpath.com/club-relations-rod-underwood/|access-date=2020-11-28|website=iSoccerPath|language=en-US}}

On March 3, 2021, Underwood was announced as the new head coach of National Independent Soccer Association side Stumptown AC ahead of the team's return from hiatus.{{cite web |title=Pro Soccer Returns to Stumptown for NISA Spring Season |url=https://www.nisaofficial.com/news/2021/03/03/pro-soccer-returns-to-stumptown-for-nisa-spring-season |website=www.nisaofficial.com |access-date=3 March 2021}} On December 3, 2021, Underwood was named head coach of Chattanooga FC.{{cite web |title=Rod Underwood Named Sporting Director & Men's Head Coach for Chattanooga Football Club |url=https://www.chattanoogafc.com/news/rod-underwood-announcement/ |website=ChattanoogaFC.com |access-date=3 December 2021}} After three seasons with Chattanooga, he parted ways with the club in 2024.{{Cite web |last=MacCoon |first=Patrick |date=26 September 2024 |title=Chattanooga FC parts ways with coach Rod Underwood {{!}} Chattanooga Times Free Press |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/sep/26/chattanooga-fc-parts-ways-with-coach-rod-underwood/ |access-date=14 February 2025 |website=www.timesfreepress.com |language=en}}