Jeff Woods
Head Field Hockey Coach

THE Woods FILE

Profile:

Jeff Woods begins his 23rd season as the Highlanders head coach. The longest tenured head coach at Radford, Woods has a long list of accomplishments, both as a coach and a player.

Since RU's induction in the NorPac Conference, the Highlanders have posted a 24-17 record in seven seasons of competition and won the regular season East Division title twice.

Another success has been RU's play at home recording a 24-3 mark since 2000. They won a school record six home matches in 2004 and have been perfect at home four of the last six seasons.

Their overall win totals have improved since the move to the NorPac. RU has won at least eight matches in six of the last eight seasons even though it plays a tough non-conference schedule that features several nationally ranked opponents every season.

In 2004 , he guided the Highlanders to their first undefeated Conference record (6-0 NorPac East) in school history and a perfect 6-0 record at home. In 2003, he led RU to its first appearance in the NorPac Championship Game in just their third season in the Conference. It marked the first East Division team to ever reach the Championship game and remains the only East squad to play for the Championship.

After playing an instrumental role in Radford joining the NorPac in 2001, he guided them to the a 2002 East Division Title. It was the first NorPac title in school history, and the Highlanders did so in just their second season. They would go on to finish third in the 2002 NorPac Championships, finishing the season 9-11, their best finish since 1996. Their 4-1 East Division record was the first winning Conference season since going 4-3 during the 1991 season in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Under his direction the past five years, he has had 14 of his players named to all-conference teams, including 2002 & 2004 East Division Offensive Player of the Years Erin Lenhardt and Hope Bates.

In their inaugural NorPac season, he guided the Highlanders to an 8-15 overall and 3-3 conference record, tying for second place in the East division. Two of his players, Tessa Brookes and Brooke Peterson, were named to the All-Conference first and second teams respectively. Peterson also garnered all-tournament honors.

Woods picked up his first NorPac win on Sept. 9, 2001 in their inaugural game, defeating Appalachian State, 2-1 at home. RU also won the consolation championship at their first tournament with another 2-1 victory over ASU.

Over the years, he has enjoyed success at both the collegiate and international levels. He has been recognized for his achievements in the coaching ranks over the years. In 1996, he led the Highlanders to a 10-8 mark and was named the Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year.

In 1991, Woods guided Radford to a 17-7 record, its most successful season ever, and was named the South Region Co-Coach of the Year by the national coaches' association.

Internationally, Woods served as an assistant coach for the USA Men's Field Hockey squad during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 1991, he was the assistant coach for the U.S. team at the World University Games. He also coached at the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival. He guided his teams to gold and silver medal finishes in 1989, 1990 and 1993.

His playing career began overseas as an exchange student at Birkbeck College in London in 1984. After returning to the U.S., Woods played on the East team during the 1986 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival. He was also a member of the Halifax Fighting Haddocks.

Wood’s coaching career also started overseas while stationed with the United States Navy in Australia. It was there that he began coaching the American baseball team as they traveled to tournament and games throughout Western Australia. He also competed in Navy Rugby and played a season of Australian Rules Football while stationed in Exmouth, W. Australia.

A 1984 graduate of James Madison with a degree in communications, he earned a master's degree in athletic administration from Virginia Tech in 1987. He and his wife, Maria, reside in Radford with their four children, James, Jordan , Elizabeth and Jonathan.