A new era has begun in the storied history of The University of Scranton women’s basketball program. Dave Martin, director of athletics, announced on Thursday that Trevor Woodruff has been named head coach of the Lady Royals, making him the sixth head coach in the program’s 42-year history.
Woodruff comes to The University of Scranton after a highly successful 11-year stint as the head men’s basketball coach at Misericordia University in nearby Dallas, Pa. He led the Cougars to Freedom Conference championships and NCAA Division III Tournament berths in 2012 and 2015, and was also named Freedom Conference Coach of the Year in both of those seasons.
“We are thrilled to welcome Trevor Woodruff as our new women’s basketball coach,” Martin said. “He is a great leader who has tremendous character and a strong work ethic. He understands the Division III philosophy and the value of Jesuit, Catholic higher education. He is the perfect choice to carry on the history and tradition of what is Lady Royals basketball.”
Woodruff takes over a Lady Royals program that won an NCAA Division III national title in 1985, has reached the Final Four eight times and has made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances. This past season, the Lady Royals finished 24-4, including 15-1 during the Landmark Conference regular season, and earned an NCAA Tournament bid for the third straight season.
Woodruff, who was also named Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2008 in Misericordia’s previous affiliation with the PAC, took over a Misericordia men’s program that had never qualified for the NCAA Tournament and went on to lead it to two berths in the past four seasons.
“I am honored to accept the position of head women’s basketball coach at The University of Scranton,” Woodruff said. “I am well aware of the lofty expectations and look forward to embracing the tradition of excellence while at the same time working with our student-athletes to move the program forward. I would like to thank Fr. Quinn, chief of staff Bobby Davis and director of athletics Dave Martin for providing and trusting me with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
In 2011, Woodruff led the Cougars to a 21-7 mark, a school-record for wins in a season. The team finished 21st in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (38.8 percent) that season. The Cougars won 29 games over the following two seasons before returning to the NCAA Tournament this past spring after going 21-7 to match the school record for wins, and winning a conference crown in the process while finishing second in the nation in field goal percentage defense (37.3).
In his 11 seasons at the helm at Misericordia, Woodruff coached two All-Americans, two all-region honorees and 16 all-conference players.
During his time at Misericordia, Woodruff also served as the coordinator of athletics recruiting since 2004, assistant to the athletics director since 2012 and head women’s golf coach since 2013.
On a regional and national level, Woodruff has served as an NCAA Division III congressman, a role he currently holds and also held from 2005 to 2008. He was also a member of the men’s basketball regional ranking committee from 2012 to 2014.
Prior to serving as head men’s basketball coach at Misericordia, Woodruff was the head men’s basketball coach at Lackawanna College in Scranton. He led the Falcons to a 24 wins and a no. 9 ranking in the final National Junior College Athletic Association Division II poll. The Falcons won the Region 19 and District 9 championships that season, and Woodruff was a named Coach of the Year in Region 19 and District 9.
Woodruff began his coaching career in 2001 as the head boys’ basketball coach at Delaware Valley High School in Milford, Pa. In two seasons as head coach, he led the Warriors to their first Lackawanna League championship in 2003 after the team increased its win total by 12 from his first season to his second.
A 1999 graduate of Misericordia, Woodruff holds his bachelor of arts degree in history. He completed his masters in educational leadership at Wilkes University in 2004.
Woodruff, his wife Melissa and son Bryce currently reside in Dunmore, Pa.
http://athletics.scranton.edu/sports/wbkb/2015-16/releases/20150827dac4ta
Photo Courtesy: Scranton Athletics
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