July 23, 2013
2013 Coaching Changes
Woodson Named Head Coach at
Richmond
Tracy
Woodson has returned to his hometown to take over as head coach
at the University of Richmond.
Woodson, 50, has led the program at Valparaiso
for the past seven years. He took the Crusaders to consecutive
Horizon League titles in 2012 and 2013, with Woodson being named
Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2012. Valparaiso reached the
NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons as well. Its
post-season trip in 2012 was the first for the school in 44
years. The Crusaders defeated Florida in the 2013 Bloomington
Regional, their first NCAA tourney victory since 1966.
After attending Benedictine High School in
Richmond, Woodson matriculated to NC State. He was ACC Player of
the Year and Second Team All-America in 1984. Woodson was named
to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team in 2002 and was inducted into
the NC State Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made Woodson a
third-round pick in 1984. He was a member of the Dodgers’ 1988
World Series Championship club. Woodson played three years with
the Dodgers (1987-89) and two with the St. Louis Cardinals
(1992-93) during his 13-year professional career.
Woodson was a hitting coach for the Double A
Carolina Mudcats in 1997 and became a minor league manager a
year later. He managed at every level, reaching Triple A with
the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2004 prior to his arrival at
Valparaiso.
In 2010, Woodson earned a bachelor’s degree in
physical education/sports management from Valparaiso and
graduated Summa Cum Laude.
(photo courtesy of Valpo Media
Relations) |