IADA Hall of Fame

Rod gradated from Marengo High School in 1950, returned as a teacher and coach in 1957. He stayed for thirty-seven years until he retired in 1994. Twenty-six of those years he served as the athletic director. Rod graduated from Valparaiso University, where he was an outstanding football player. He earned his Masters Degree from the University of Colorado and also served our country in the United States Army for two years. During his years of service in Marengo, he helped expand the athletic program from four sports to fourteen upon his retirement. He is responsible for the implement action of the girls athletic programs and planned the new outdoor aquatics facilities that currently exist at Marengo High School. Rod served as a head volleyball coach from 1957-1979, where he won over seventy percent of his games. In 1989, he was inducted into the "Illinois Football Coached Hall of Fame." He was a finalist for the IADA "Outstanding Athletic Director of the Year" three times in 1984, 1987, and 1990. He served on the Athletic Advisory Committee of the IHSA and was on the original committee that exploded the feasibility of a football playoff system. He also served a three yet term on the IHSA Liaison Committee. He belonged to the IADA for twenty-three years. These who had the opportunity to work for Rod use one word to describe him and that is "gentleman." He influenced the lives of many players, coaches, and fellow athletic administrators during his years of service and education. On September 10th, honored him by naming the outdoor athletic facilities the "Rod Poppe Athletic Fields."