He played college basketball in the US for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina.

Born in Offenbach am Main, Hesse, he has been credited for his role in bringing other European players, including fellow German Ademola Okulaja, into the North Carolina basketball program.

A 2.01 metres (6 ft 7 in) shooting guard/small forward, Rödl had great success and a number of championships over a long career in American collegiate and international professional basketball.

During his time at North Carolina Rödl averaged 3.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

[5] He was released in June 2007, but stayed on with the club serving as director of the youth program and coach of the development squad.

[11] In October 2022, Rödl signed as the head coach of Al Ittihad Alexandria in Egypt,[12] a position he held until June 2023.