Current position | |
---|---|
Title | Special Teams Coordinator |
Team | Iowa |
Conference | Big Ten |
Biographical details | |
Born | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | March 15, 1978
Playing career | |
1998–2000 | Iowa |
2001–2004 | Arizona Cardinals |
2005 | Chicago Bears* |
2005–2006 | Detroit Lions |
2006–2007 | Tennessee Titans |
Position(s) | Linebacker |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
2008–2011 | Iowa (AA) |
2012–2014 | Iowa (LB) |
2015–2017 | Iowa (TE) |
2018–present | Iowa (STC) |
LeVar Woods (born March 15, 1978) is the special teams coach at the University of Iowa, [1] where he played linebacker during his college career. As a professional football player, he was originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2001, played for a season and a half with the Detroit Lions (2005–2006), and finished his career with the Tennessee Titans (2006–2007).
Woods attended West Lyon High School in Larchwood, Iowa and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. [2] He graduated from West Lyon High School in 1996. Woods was the Iowa 2A player of the year as a senior.
Woods attended the University of Iowa, and was a letterman in football. Playing for both Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz, he was a two-year starter as an outside linebacker. He finished his spectacular college career with four sacks and 165 tackles. In 1999, he returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown against Northern Illinois to help clinch Ferentz's first Iowa victory. As a senior, he was an All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection, and was given the Hayden Fry Extra Heartbeat Award.
Woods played in the NFL from 2001 to 2007. After going undrafted in the 2001 NFL Draft, he signed for the Arizona Cardinals, where he played four seasons. He later played for the Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans. Mostly a reserve linebacker in the NFL, Woods excelled on special teams. In 88 career games, Woods totaled 168 tackles, 2.5 quarterback sacks, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
During his NFL career, Woods was named a finalist for both the Byron “Whizzer” White and Walter Payton Man of the Year awards, recognizing his contributions to charity.
After retiring from playing, Woods and his family relocated to Iowa City, though Woods wasn't sure if coaching was in his future. He joined the Iowa football staff as a low-paid administrative assistant in 2008, a role he held for four seasons. As an administrative assistant, Woods compiled statistics, helped with recruiting, social media, and the Iowa football website. [3] At the end of the 2010 season, Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker had a foot amputated due to diabetes complications, and Woods became an interim assistant coach in Parker’s absence. After the 2011 regular season, Iowa defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski left to join the Nebraska program, and Woods filled in as the defensive line coach for the 2011 Insight Bowl against Oklahoma.
In 2012, Woods was promoted to a full-time on-field assistant coach, coaching outside linebackers and assisting with special teams. Woods and middle linebackers coach Jim Reid developed an excellent linebacking trio in Christian Kirksey, Anthony Hitchens, and James Morris, each earning All-Big Ten recognition. Reid and Woods were named national Linebacker Coaches of the Year by FootballScoop following the 2013 season. [4]
In 2015, Woods switched to tight ends coach, continuing to assist with special teams. Coaching tight ends until 2017, Woods developed two and three-star prospects into starting tight ends. These players included Henry Krieger-Coble, Jake Duzey, and future All-Pro George Kittle. Woods also coached the early careers of Noah Fant and T.J. Hockensen, both future first round picks.
In 2017, Woods became special teams coordinator in addition to coaching tight ends. In 2018, Woods became Iowa's full-time special teams coordinator without coaching another position. Woods recruits the St. Louis and Phoenix metros for the Hawkeyes, and in 2017 landed one of Iowa's highest-ranked recruits ever in defensive end A.J. Epenesa.
Under Woods' guidance, Hawkeye special teams were consistently ranked among national leaders in punt and kick return and return defense. Woods developed several All-Big Ten and All-American specialists and returners. Return man and wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette won the 2018 Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year, after finishing second nationally in average return yards. In 2019, placekicker Keith Duncan earned consensus first-team All-America honors, was named the Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year in the Big Ten and was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award. Duncan was replaced after graduation by Caleb Shudak, who was first-team All-Big Ten in 2020. In 2020, freshman punter Tory Taylor was named the Eddleman–Fields Punter of the Year in the Big Ten and finished as a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. In 2021, former walk-on transfer Charlie Jones won the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year for his kick and punt return efforts. [5]
The Hawkeye special teams scored on several trick plays designed by Woods, including a "swinging gate" direct snap from long snapper Jackson Subbert to tight end T.J. Hockenson against Minnesota, and an over-the-shoulder catch by defensive lineman Sam Brincks from a pass by punter Colten Rastetter against Penn State. [6] [7] In Iowa's 2017 55–24 upset win over #3 Ohio State, an elaborate "polecat" fake field goal ended with Rastetter completing a pass to long snapper Tyler Kluver, who stumbled at the goal line but set up a Hawkeye touchdown. [8]
The Iowa Hawkeyes football program represents the University of Iowa in college football. The Hawkeyes compete in the West division of the Big Ten Conference. Iowa joined the Conference in 1899 and played their first Conference football season in 1900. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Hawkeyes play their home games in Iowa City, Iowa, at Kinnick Stadium, with a capacity of 69,250. The Hawkeyes are coached by Kirk Ferentz, who is in his 25th season as the head coach and is the longest current tenured head coach in NCAA Division I FBS. The Hawkeyes have won 13 conference championships. Iowa has been ranked #1 in the AP and Coaches Poll 15 times.
Kirk James Ferentz is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since the 1999 season. From 1990 to 1992, Ferentz was the head football coach at the University of Maine. He was also an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Ferentz played college football as a linebacker at the University of Connecticut from 1974 to 1976. Since 2017, he has been the longest tenured FBS coach with one program. Ferentz is the all-time wins leader at Iowa.
Abdul Hodge is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the tight ends coach at Iowa, where he played as a 3-time all Big-Ten linebacker. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
The 2002 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa and were led by head coach Kirk Ferentz.
The 2004 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. They played their home games in Kinnick Stadium and were coached by Kirk Ferentz. Finishing the 2003 season with a 10–3 record and an Outback Bowl victory, the Hawkeyes began the season 2–0 with wins over Kent State and Iowa State. But after rocky performances at Arizona State and Michigan, the Hawkeyes sat at 2–2 going into their game with Michigan State.
The 2008 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa and the Iowa Hawkeyes football program in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Coached by Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes played their seven home games in Kinnick Stadium.
The 2001 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa and the Iowa Hawkeyes football program during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Coached by Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Brian Ferentz is an American football coach and former player. Following his collegiate career at the University of Iowa, as an offensive lineman, Ferentz was in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons in 2006 and New Orleans Saints in 2007. Following his playing career, Ferentz began a coaching tenure. Ferentz coached in the NFL for the New England Patriots from 2008 to 2011. Serving as the tight ends coach for the Patriots in 2011, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski set NFL records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns by tight ends, and Gronkowski became the first tight end in NFL history to lead the league in touchdown receptions. Ferentz then began a coaching tenure at Iowa in 2012.
The 2015 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes, led by 17th year head coach Kirk Ferentz, were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium. Despite modest expectations entering the season, the team finished 12–2 overall and 8–0 in Big Ten play to win the West Division. After losing a classic to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Hawkeyes were invited to the 2016 Rose Bowl where they were beaten by Stanford. The team established a new single-season school record for wins.
Desmond King II is an American football cornerback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He earned All-Pro honors in 2018 as both a defensive back and a punt returner. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and was a unanimous All-American. King was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has also played for the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 2016 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes, led by 18th-year head coach Kirk Ferentz, were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
The 2017 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes, led by 19th-year head coach Kirk Ferentz, were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. They finished the season 8–5, 4–5 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for third place in the West Division. They received an invite to the Pinstripe Bowl where they defeated Boston College.
Josey Jewell is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, where he was a unanimous All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten selection. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2018 NFL draft.
The 2018 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by Kirk Ferentz in his 20th season as head coach.
The 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by 24th-year head coach Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes played home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Cooper DeJean is an American football cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa, receiving unanimous All-American honors in 2023. DeJean was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Seth Wallace is an American college football coach. He is the assistant head coach for the University of Iowa. He played college football at Coe College as a wide receiver.
The 2023 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa as members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hawkeyes were led by Kirk Ferentz in his 25th year as head coach. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, and sold out all seven home contests for the second consecutive season.