After retiring from playing in 1998, Rodger was appointed Sports in the Community Officer at Grimsby a year later in 1999. Rodger later moved onto the coaching staff at Blundell Park and following the dismissal of manager Lennie Lawrence and his assistant John Cockerill in 2001, the new Town boss Paul Groves appointed Rodger as his new Assistant Manager.
Following his retirement from playing in 1998, Rodger took on a role at Grimsby the following year. He later moved into coaching at Blundell Park and after Lawrence and Cockerill were let go in 2001, Paul Groves chose Rodger as his new Assistant Manager.