Henrik Rödl

Henrik Rodl (born March 4, 1969 in Offenbach am Main, West Germany) is a German former professional basketball player, and currently a basketball coach. He played college basketball in the US for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina. He has been credited for his role in bringing other European players, including fellow German Ademola Okulaja, into the North Carolina basketball program.

The 6' 7", 200-lb. shooting guard/small forward has had great success and a number of championships over a long career in American collegiate and international professional basketball. He was released as head coach of ALBA Berlin in June 2007.

Pre-Professional Career

Rodl was spotted by Smith's staff while he was an exchange student at Chapel Hill High School, a school located only a few miles from UNC's campus. Rodl led the CHHS basketball team to the 1987 North Carolina State High School Basketball Championship. [http://www.nchsaa.org/pdf/1132B.pdf] He returned to Germany for 2 years before returning to Chapel Hill.

Rodl played for the Tar Heels from 1989 to 1993. Rodl's Tar Heels won the 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, making Rodl the first German to win an NCAA Title. He wore jersey #5 during his collegiate career.

Professional career

Rodl played professionally for ALBA Berlin for 11 years. [http://www.euroleague.net/noticia.jsp?temporada=E03&jornada=21&id=603] His team won the 1995 Korac Cup, a former European international pro basketball tournament, and began building a German basketball dynasty. Rodl's ALBA Berlin teams won seven consecutive championships in the Bundesliga from 1997 through 2003.

International career

Rodl also played for many years for the German national basketball team. Rodl played on the team that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics and led the German team to the European Basketball Championship in 1993. He also played on the team that won the bronze medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championship. Rodl also played for the German team in the 1995, 1997 and 1999 European championship tournaments.

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