Tom Roderick - Hall of Fame 2011

As a high school freshman at T.F. South, Roderick had no intention of trying out for swimming until meeting the team’s coach, Jim Kijewski.

“He talked me into coming out for the swim team once day in homeroom,” said Roderick. “I was still learning how to swim.”

Four years later, Roderick, who also was a high jumper on the track squad, went on to Eastern Illinois where he became a four-year varsity member of the swim team.

“Coach Kijewski was a fabulous teacher and coach,” said Roderick. “There were a lot of little things I learned from him and the time he spent with the team. He’d wait until the last kid was picked up from practice. He’d have the entire team over to his house. It felt like family.”

Tlessons stayed with Roderick during his high school coaching career, which included stops at Tinley Park, T.F. North and Elk Grove before being hired by then athletic director Paul Bergeson at St. Charles in 1983.

hose “That’s the way I knew how to coach,” he added.

Roderick, who coached boys track (1984-2002), girls track (1987-1988), and girls cross country (1989-2001), guided Saints track teams to 17 conference titles during his tenure.

In 1997 and 1998, his girls cross country team earned back-to-back state championships, led by Tera Moody, Carrie DiPiazza, Kelly Tetzlaff, Denise Hefferin, Carrie Phelps and Christine Wampach.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by my hometown here,” Roderick said of the Hall of Fame accolades. “It’s special because it involved all of the kids.

“I got to know Jodie Harrison and shared his philosophy. He always said teach in five (classes) and coach in two (sports) every year. I was very content with the job I did over the years.”

Roderick currently serves as assistant men’s track coach and volunteer cross country coach at North Central College.