AD Joe Rodriguez sends in letter of resignation

Any lingering uncertainty on the status of Brownsville ISD Athletic Director Joe Rodriguez can be put to rest.

The Herald has obtained a copy of Rodriguez' official letter of resignation where it states Rodriguez' retirement as the BISD Athletic Administrator will be effective Dec. 31, 2009.

In an article that appeared in The Herald on Aug. 22 Rodriguez said he plans to fulfill his commitment to host the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association convention in March 2009 as the BISD athletic director.

"I submitted the letter (on Aug.29) to give the school district enough time to start searching for my replacement," Rodriguez said.

Rumors swirling throughout the city about Rodriguez's firing, reassignment, and buy-out were vehemently denied by both Rodriguez and BISD Public Information Director Drue Brown in the Aug. 22 article.

"That's absolutely not true, there's absolutely no truth to that at all," Rodriguez said. "I've got everything set up for next week, and I'll be there (Sams Stadium) Friday night (Sharyland vs. Hanna football on Aug. 29)."

And he was. Rodriguez was on the sidelines and in the press box mixing it up with school board members.

Also, Rodriguez along with a handful of BISD board members introduced the brand new digital scoreboard at Sams Stadium with a ceremonial coin toss to kick off the 2008 season before Hanna and Sharyland took the field.

In the Aug. 22 article, BISD Public Information Director Drue Brown added to Rodriguez's claim that no actions had been taken against him.

"Joe Rodriguez remains the Brownsville Independent School District Athletic Director," Brown said on Friday. "In answering your question, no sanctions of any kind have been levied against Mr. Rodriguez. His position with BISD remains the same."