Radford University Athletics

The longest tenured head coach at Radford, Jeff Woods has a long list of accomplishments, both as a coach and a player.

Entering his 28th season at the helm of the Highlanders, Woods reached another milestone when he captured his 200th win as a head coach during the 2010 campaign. The feat came on Sept. 25, 2010 in Farmville, Va. when Radford defeated Longwood, 3-2 in overtime.

In 2009, Woods enjoyed one of his program’s best seasons in recent years. The Highlanders claimed their third East Division regular season title and posted a winning record (11-10) in 2009, while several members of his squad were recognized with league and state accolades.

For the first time since its 2001 induction into the NorPac, a school record four student-athletes claimed all-conference honors, including two on the first team as well as his goalkeeper, who garnered Defensive Player of the Year (East Division) honors. Along with those accolades, two members earned all-state recognition.

Radford has posted a 34-29 record in 11 seasons of competition and still remains the only East Division squad to play for the NorPac Championship (2003). Their overall win totals have also improved since the move to the NorPac. The Highlanders have won at least eight matches in nine of the last 11 seasons, even though it plays a tough non-conference schedule that features several nationally-ranked opponents on the road every year.

Another success under Woods has been Radford’s play at home, recording a 34-6 mark since 2000. They won a school-record six home matches in 2004 and have been perfect five times.

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 guided Radford to its first appearance in the NorPac Championship Game in just their third season in the conference.

After playing an instrumental role in Radford joining the NorPac in 2001, he guided them to the 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 leadership the past 11 season, he has had 28 of his players named to all-conference teams, including 2002 & 2004 East Division offensive players of the year Erin Lenhardt and Hope Bates and 2009 East Division Defensive Player of the Year, Jennifer Wisniewski.

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. Radford 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, Woods was the assistant coach for the U.S. team at the World University Games and the 1995 Pan American Games in Argentina. He also coached at five U.S. Olympic Sports Festival and guided his teams to gold and silver medal finishes in 1989, 1990 and 1993.

Woods, a graduate of the Defense Information School (DINFOS) in Print, Broadcast and Electronic Journalism, served as a Navy Journalist with the American Forces Network (AFN) on Midway Island. He also spent time with the AFN at the Naval Communications Station, Harold E. Holt, on the Northwest Cape of Australia.

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.

Woods’ 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. James, his oldest, is a member of the Radford Baseball squad.

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