BGA names Evangelical Christian School's Jonas Rodriguez next football coach

Jonas Rodriguez is coming back to Middle Tennessee.

Rodriguez was named the new football coach at Battle Ground Academy after spending the past two seasons in the same position at Evangelical Christian School in Cordova.

"It's a tremendous school," Rodriguez said of BGA. "It has a long standing as a school of excellence. The opportunity to coach at a school with that pedigree is a tremendous opportunity. And being closer to home is a benefit."

Rodriguez, who served as football coach and athletic director at ECS, replaces Roc Batten, who left BGA to be the football coach at Ensworth this past week.

ECS went 9-3 in 2018, losing 35-14 to Lausanne in the second round of the Division II-AA playoffs. ECS defeated BGA 20-7 last season in regular season play. The two teams aren't scheduled to meet in the 2019 regular season.

BGA went 11-3 last season, falling to CPA in the DII-AA championship game.

Rodriguez was 13-10 in two seasons with the Eagles.

 "From the very beginning of our search, Jonas emerged as our top choice to take the reins of our football program,” BGA head of school Will Kesler said in a press release. “With a wealth of independent school experience and a track record of success at every level of his coaching tenure, we are confident he can build on the tradition of success we have enjoyed at BGA for many years. 

"Jonas is a great fit for our community and culture, and we are delighted to have secured someone of his caliber and character to lead our team and coaches."  

ECS named Trey Adams, who has served as the school's co-defensive coordinator, as Rodriguez's replacement as head coach. Adams, a former ECS football player, also played at Memphis and Delta State.

Rodriguez is a former three-sport athlete at Montgomery Bell Academy. He was part of state championship teams in football (1998, 1999) basketball (1998, 2000) and track and field (1998, 1999) as a high school athlete.

He was later the defensive coordinator at both MBA and Ensworth.

Rodriguez said he has some familiarity with BGA's coaching staff and personnel after playing them the past two years.

"I have a pretty good sense of what they have at BGA and what they have coming back," Rodriguez said. "Now I will learn more about them on a personal level."

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.