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)