Early Iowa coaching career (2008–2017) Following his retirement from the sport, 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. 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. 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 landed one of Iowa's highest-ranked recruits ever in defensive end
A.J. Epenesa.
Iowa special teams coordinator (2018–present) In
2017, Woods was named special teams coordinator after several seasons of assisting with special teams operations. In 2018, Woods became Iowa's full-time special teams coordinator without coaching another position. 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. 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
2021. 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. Taylor would repeat his all-conference award in 2023, in addition to winning the Ray Guy award, given to the nation's top punter. Taylor is the only player to win the top Big Ten punter award multiple times. As a return specialist in 2016,
Desmond King ranked second in the Big Ten in kickoff returns and third in punt returns. As a team, Iowa led the conference and ranked seventh nationally in kickoff returns, while ranking second in the Big Ten and 11th nationally in punt returns. 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 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. In 2023, defensive back
Cooper DeJean won the Rodgers-Dwight award, as did wide receiver
Kaden Wetjen in 2024. Wetjen also won the 2024
Jet Award, awarded nationally to the top
return specialist in college football. Woods was named FootballScoop's Special Teams Coordinator of the Year in 2023. 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. 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. ==References==