CHARLESTON – Charleston Southern announced the hiring of Antonio Rodriguez as the team's new defensive line coach on Wednesday morning. Rodriguez joins the Buccaneers after spending the past year at Georgia Military College as the Defensive Coordinator.
 
During this past fall, he helped lead GMC to a 10-1 record and a top five finish in the nation at the JUCO level. In the national leaderboards, they ranked second in total defense, first in third-down defense, second in red zone defense, second in sacks, first in defensive touchdowns scored, first in opponent pass completion percentage.
 
"I am honored and extremely excited to join Head Coach Gabe Giardina and his staff at Charleston Southern University," said Rodriguez. "I would like to thank VP for Intercollegiate Athletics Jeff Barber and Coach Giardina for the opportunity to be part of the CSU family who puts Christ first in developing student-athletes of character on and off the field. I can't wait to meet the team and get to work."
 
Prior to joining the staff at GMC, he worked for three years at Florida State under Head Coach Mike Norvell. He worked as a Senior Defensive Analyst as well as the assistant linebackers coach being one of the youngest defensive analysts in FBS football. During the falls of 2022 and 2023, they boosted some of the best defenses in the ACC as well as the nation, ranking top five nationally in multiple categories and leading the conference.
 
"I am very excited to welcome Antonio Rodriguez to the Buccaneers family," said Giardina. "He and Coach McCray and have history together dating back to FIU under Butch Davis. Antonio is a very good teacher and highly relational coach. I look forward to him impacting our defense line in every area. His passion for player development extends beyond the field. He is a very bright defensive mind, as well as great mentor."
 
Rodriquez also spent four years at Florida International under Super Bowl-winning defensive innovator head coach Butch Davis. Under Davis, he coached at all three levels of the FIU Defense, helping the staff achieve the highest winning percentage of any FIU head coaching era in the program's history. FIU advanced to two bowl games and had the winningest season in their history, beating cross-town rival University of Miami.

He graduated from Florida International in 2020 with his Bachelor's of Science in Sport Management.