George T. Roderick
After serving two years in the US Army, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, George T. Roderick was hired as head basketball coach/athletic director at Monroe High School in 1971. During the following five years, Coach Roderick’s Rams won four conference titles including three third place finishes and one runner up at the State Championships. During the 1973 season, MHS completed the campaign with a 30-3 record including a first ever 9-1 Christmas basketball trip to the Hawaiian Islands. From 1971-1976, the Rams compiled a 118- 36 won-loss record, often competing against the large schools in Alaska and many out-of-state teams. The Rams won numerous tournaments that featured out-of- state teams. During Coach Roderick’s years at Monroe, the Rams moved from Class B (small schools) regional alignment to competing in regionals that included the larger schools in the State.
The spring of 1976 Coach Roderick accepted an assistant men’s basketball position at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which was the beginning of a 20 year career, eight as an assistant & 12 as head men’s basketball coach. During Coach Roderick tenure, the Nanook basketball program elevated from NAIA to NCAA Division 2 competition. In 1989 the Nanooks captured the school’s first ever Great Northwest Championship and a trip to the NCAA regional play offs. The team finished rated #1 in the region and Roderick was awarded conference and regional Coach of the Year.
Prior to retiring in 1996, Coach Roderick founded and named the Top of the World Classic basketball tournament featuring 7 Division 1 teams and host UAF Nanooks, and also served as its tournament director for seven years. Due to NCAA rule changes, the tournament was discontinued after 12 successful years.
Fairbanks, UAF, the basketball program as well as the State of Alaska received national recognition and exposure.
Coach Roderick and his wife Joanie are retired and live on a golf course in New Braunfels, Texas.
