Jubenal Rodriguez is back with the Bay Area Panthers in 2025. After serving as an assistant coach last year, he has been promoted to Co-Defensive Coordinator alongside Panthers Head Coach Rob Keefe.
Rodriguez began with Bay Area as a coaching intern in 2022. Since then, he’s contributed to the Panthers most specifically as a Linebackers Coach and Defensive Analyst. The 2023 season was his first official year in the IFL.Â
Rodriguez spent the 2020 and 2021 football campaigns as head coach at his alma-mater Ann Sobrato High School in nearby Morgan Hill, CA. Previously, he led Monte Vista Christian to consecutive playoff trips, capped by a division title in 2019.Â
In 2017, Rodriguez coached Gilroy High School to an undefeated 13-0 record and a section championship. For the historic season with the Mustangs, he was nominated as one of only 32 coaches across the United States for the NFL High School Coach of the Year.Â
Coach Rodriguez was a three-year varsity player for the Sobrato Bulldogs before playing middle linebacker at Gavilan College from 2008-2010. Additionally, he participated in the Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Game, which annually showcases Silicon Valley’s top prep athletes.
He finished his on-field career at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, where Rodriguez competed for the Pioneers over two seasons.
Upon receiving his most recent promotion, Rodriguez told BayAreaPanthers.com, “It's an honor. Coach Keefe and I are going to continue building this defense and use the talent we bring in to go get another championship.
“I'm excited about the [co-defensive coordinator] title and grateful that Coach Keefe trusts me with it; it's a blessing to do this in the Bay Area," Rodriguez continued. Notably, Coach Rodriguez was an integral figure in the Panthers’ defensive dominance in 2024, as the team allowed only 35.8 PPG—best clip in the IFL’s Western Conference.