Florida Memorial announces the hiring of Rodd Woods as the interim women’s head basketball coach. He brings over 21 years of experience in women’s basketball coaching at every level from junior college to NCAA division I.
“We look forward to Coach Woods joining our team and leading the Florida Memorial women’s basketball program as he brings a wealth of experience that spans over two decades,” said Director of Athletics Jason Horn. “He has great experience not only as a head coach, but also as an administrator.”
Most recently, Woods spent last season in Miami Shores at Barry University, sporting an overall record of 14-15, including a birth in the Sunshine State Conference tournament. During his short stint at Barry, Woods was responsible for the post player development, which lead into K’Nari Holliday earning freshman of the year honors.
Prior to Barry University, Woods spent one season at East Mississippi Community College, where he helped lead the Lions to a 12-13 campaign under head coach Sharon Thompson.
During his three years before East Mississippi, Woods served as an assistant coach on Ashley Walker-Johnson’s staff at Mississippi Valley State University. Before that, Woods served in the same capacity at South Carolina State University for a total of three years, where he helped coach two all-conference players. At both schools, Woods was responsible for recruiting, scheduling, budgeting and community outreach, along with overseeing individual player skill development, scouting preparation for opposing teams, and serving as the director of team and individual summer camps.
As a head coach, Woods spent 12 years as the head women’s basketball coach at Clinton College in Rock Hill, S.C. He also served much of that tenure as the athletics director. Having eclipsed the 200 career wins mark, Woods guided the Golden Bears to five Region 10 runner-up finishes and coached three players who earned NJCAA Region 10 Player of the Year honors. His players also excelled in the classroom, with six of his student-athletes being named valedictorians of their graduating classes at Clinton.
Throughout his previous coaching stint in the junior college ranks, Woods also served as a tournament director for the NJCAA Region 10 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. During the summer months, he previously served as an associate director at the Nike girls’ basketball camps held annually in Amherst, Mass.
Woods’ basketball coaching career began at his alma mater as a volunteer assistant men’s basketball coach at Eastern Kentucky University during the 1996-97 season. He also spent the 1999-2000 campaign working as an assistant boys’ basketball coach at Lamar (S.C.) High School.
Woods played collegiate basketball for the Eastern Kentucky Colonels during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons, earning his bachelor’s degree in physical education from the Richmond-based school.
Woods is a native of Florence, S.C., and began his collegiate athletics career in his home state at Spartanburg Methodist College.
After teaming up as a freshman with two-time NJCAA Division I All-American and former NBA player James Scott to help lead SMC to the 1993 NJCAA National Tournament, Woods went on to earn All-Region 10 honors as a sophomore for the Pioneers.
He continued his education by earning a master’s degree in sports management from the American Public University in Charles Town, W.Va.
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