Obituary: Carlisle Sentinel

Funeral arrangements: A memorial celebration of his life will be held at the Second Presbyterian Church, 528 Garland Drive, Carlisle, Pa. 17013 on Friday, May 6, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. with the Reverend Dr. Jeffrey W. Gibelius officiating. Additional information in the link posted above.  

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University is mourning the loss of longtime basketball coach and faculty member Rodger Goodling, who passed away Tuesday morning.  

Goodling was the head men's basketball coach at Shippensburg University for 31 seasons from 1970-2001. Goodling compiled an overall career record of 356-443, guiding the team to 10 winning seasons and reaching six PSAC Tournaments during his tenure.
 
In 1991, Goodling's 20-11 team set several university records on its way to Shippensburg's first ever PSAC championship. He received plenty of recognition for his efforts, being named PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year, PSAC Coach of the Year, and Division II Kodak East District Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Eastman Kodak Company.
 
Goodling, who was PSAC Eastern Division Coach of the Year in 1982 (Shippensburg moved to the Western Division in 1987-88), became the first coach to earn both Eastern and Western Division Coach of the Year honors. 
 
Some of his other notable teams included the 1976 squad, which went 15-11 and had four players score more than 300 points. The 1982 team, led by Brian Cozzens, went 19-8, and the 1989 team won the PSAC Western Division crown.
 
During his career, four of his players earned Academic All-America honors for their ability to excel both in the classroom and on the basketball court.
 
Goodling was also inducted into the York College Hall of Fame. He held York's school record for foul shooting accuracy, hitting 92 percent of his free throws. Goodling played two years at York when it was a junior college before transferring to Lock Haven, where he graduated in 1959.
 
Goodling is survived by his wife Sandra, and four children – sons Steve and Craig, and daughters Kate and Abbey.

If any former players, coaches, mentors, or colleagues wish to pass along their reflections, we will gladly post them to this story. Please e-mail sid@ship.edu for any comments you wish to provide, along with your name. 

Reflections on Coach Goodling:

"I had the good fortune of learning play-by-play and interviewing at a time when Coach Goodling was at Shippensburg. I respected the way that he carried himself and challenged his players, and I will always be grateful for the time that he gave us in the student media and how understanding he was. He is certainly a man who will be missed by many. I'm fortunate to have known him." -- Mike Urrunaga '98, Radio Producer, ESPN

"So sorry to hear of the passing of Roger. A unique and wonderful man. Our sympathies to Sandra and family. May the memories and good times sustain you and give you peace." -- Doug and Jan Nichols

"I was saddened to hear about the loss of coach. Even though I didn't play basketball at Ship I spent many hours in his company each summer while working his camps. He took care of me like I was his own son during my years at Shippensburg. He will be greatly missed!" -- Steve Gironda '90 football

"Coach Goodling was a good man and he'll be missed dearly. I'll always remember our first Christmas Tournament in Florida back in '96-'97 we were freshmen traveling for the first time and Coach Goodling loved some P.Diddy. He kept a good saying or two in his pocket also. "If Ifs and buts were Candy and Nuts we all have a Merry Christmas." Thank you Coach for believing in me, and may you Rest In Peace." -- Jamie Ware '00 football/basketball

"I share the sentiments of many when thinking of Coach Goodling. From 1998-2001 I was a student broadcaster for WSYC and much like Mike Urrunaga, I learned as much about calling the game as I did the game itself from him. He was always coaching and even though I wasn't on the team, he made me feel like I was part of it. We all know he was a great guy with a larger than life personality...never more evident than via this clip. Thanks for the memories, Coach."  -- Mike Garland '01, Public Relations Manger for Carlisle Events

"I will forever be grateful for Coach Goodling taking a chance on a skinny, 6-7 kid from Chief Logan High School back in 1982. He was very clear about the two incredible opportunities he could offer me at Shippensburg. The first was the chance to further my education with a college degree from an outstanding university. The second was realizing my dream to play college basketball at a competitive level. I look back on my four years playing for Coach Goodling with fondness and appreciation for the incredible adventure it was. There were our fair share of wins as well as losses. And in the end he delivered on those promises and then some. One special connection I will always have with Coach is the nickname I've carried for more than 30 years. During my freshman year he and his Assistant Coach Steve Rosenberry would make fun of my high school, Chief Logan. One day during practice they started calling me Chief (I think they were yelling it as I missed a block out) and it stuck. Coach Goodling, thanks for the great experiences (and the nickname). To Sandra, Steve, Craig, Abbey and Kate, thank you for sharing your husband and dad all those years. I am thankful that I could call him "Coach." -- Michael Palm '86 ("Chief"), co-captain of the 1985-86 team with Dale Lay and Rick Jackson

"In 1970 I started to work in the SU (then SSC) Public Relations Office and one of my first assignments was arranging the press coverage of the announcement of Rodger's hiring as the new coach. At the time I was responsible for sports information, among other things. I drove to Harrisburg, met him and we arranged an interview with the Patriot-News. I was promoted to Director of PR and Publications at SU in 1971, a job I held until 1988. I knew Rodger as a fine coach and a gentleman. My sympathies go to his family and friends." - Gary Willhide,  '66/'74M

"Coach Goodling arrived at Shipp when my father was head football coach. Coach Goodling and coach Dolbin soon became fast friends. I remember being around this great man on many occasions as a child and later during my years as a SU student and varsity athlete. He was always positive, encouraging and full of great advice. All delivered with a great sense of humor!" -- Steve Dolbin '83 football

"I want to send my sincerest condolences to Sandra and the entire Goodling Family during this time of grief. Coach Goodling was so many things to me, a coach, a mentor, a second father, and ultimately a friend. I always admired his love and respect for the game of basketball. He took me from a young kid from Queens, that was rough around the edges, to a Man that was able to play the game professionally. Your teachings and life lessons have served me well in my adulthood and without thinking about it, have been passed on to young people I'm in contact with to this day. Coach you will be missed and I'm sure you'll get your daily jog in up in heaven. Rest in Peace." -- Keith Hill, 1987-1991, men's basketball

"I had the good fortune to meet Coach Goodling when I was growing up as a kid at Carlisle Country Club. I knew him as one of the nicest people I ever met, as was his wife Sandra. I enjoyed quite a few rounds of golf with Coach Goodling and remember that he always had a smile on his face. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family." -- Scott Cole