Coach Rodden started out as a Softball player for MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) in 1997 and went on to participate in MNU's Olympic Weightlifting Program. She graduated from MNU in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Athletic Training, and a Minor Degree in Psychology. In May of 2004 she graduated from Kansas State University (KSU) with a Master of Arts Degree in Education Administration and Leadership. She is a member of United States of America Weightlifting (USAW) at the Coach Level and Referee Level, a member of the National Athletic Training Association (NATA), a certified Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach (SCCC), and she is also a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in which she is a member and a Specialist.

After graduation from MNU, Rodden went on to become the Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for KSU. She stayed on with KSU from August 2001 to May of 2002. In August of 2002, Rodden became the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Kansas (KU). There she not only assisted the teams, but she coordinated lifting and running programs for them. She was the Assistant Coach for KU from August of 2002 until June of 2005.
 

In July of 2005, Rodden Became the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for MNU. She is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for Football, Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Soccer, Volleyball, Softball, Baseball, and the Cheer Squad. Rodden coordinates the lifting and running programs, and she also organizes lifting schedules for all the teams at MNU.
 

While the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for MNU, many accomplishments have occurred. MNU has had Collegiate National results for Olympic-style lifting, with the men receiving third place in 2008. Men's basketball won the national title in 2007, and has appeared in four consecutive Fab Fours. Women's basketball made their first Fab Four appearance in 2007, and several teams have captured conference titles.

Whitney and her husband Geoff have three kids: Cole, Kinsley, and Harper.