Javier Rodriguez was a star at Gulliver when and went on to be a star for the University of Miami as well, but inappropriate contact with students has ended his streak as a local baseball golden figure.
Head of Schools Frank Steel announced the firing today in a letter to alumni. Rodriguez, known as "Javy," was let go "after learning of a certain inappropriate electronic communication containing or linking to a brief, sexually explicit video that he sent to members of the varsity baseball team during the 2015 season," according to Local 10.
Parents of students affected were contacted directly, and Gulliver reported the incident to police.
Rodriguez had coached for seven seasons at the school and was a star on the team when he attended the prestigious Miami-Dade private school system.
A since deleted biography on the school's website claims that Rodriguez "was a four-year starter at Gulliver Prep, establishing numerous school records." He then played for the University of Miami where he won two national championships with the Hurricanes baseball team and was twice selected as an All-American.
In fact, just last year Rodriguez was inducted to the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 after racking up a distinguished career at the school:
Rodriguez settled in as the regular shortstop in 2000 and enjoyed a fine sophomore season, batting .364 with 82 hits, 52 runs and a team-leading 27 stolen bases. Javy set the school record and led the NCAA in stolen bases in 2001 when he tallied 66. He was named team Most Valuable Player with his .382 batting average, 92 hits, four triples and 127 total bases, and became the first and ONLY Miami player in the 60-60 Club (66 stolen bases, 60 runs batted in). At the College World Series in Omaha, he hit .354, including two hits and three runs scored as the Canes defeated Stanford 12-1 for their fourth National Championship. As a senior in 2002, always the team player, Rodriguez spent time at both shortstop and second base and again led UM in batting average (.376) runs (57), hits (99) and stolen bases (37), and was named the team MVP for the second consecutive season. For his career, Javy is second all-time in both stolen bases (135) and hits (321). He is third in at-bats (868), tied for fourth in total bases (427) and stands fifth in runs scored (201). His .369 career average is UM's all-time highest for a middle infielder.
