WNMU's Woodard Retires As Athletic Director

Courtesy Victoria Stimac, WNMU sports information director

Athletic director Scott Woodard announced his retirement Monday. He will remain in the director position until June 30. Woodard will stay on as head softball coach as a part-time employee after that date.

“It has been a great 20 years, and I appreciate all the support both Dr. Counts and Sherri Bays, as well as Chris Casey and Jerry Joy, have given me. However, I believe it is time for a change and time for someone else to take the reins,” comments Woodard.

Woodard spent more than half his life at the University as a student, athlete, coach, and administrator. He also held nearly every job in the department, including sports information, game management, compliance, eligibility, and bus driver, prior to his appointment as the leader in 1996. Top that off with stints as a head baseball coach, assistant football coach, and head softball coach made Woodard the most qualified individual to lead the Mustang Department of Athletics for the last 15 years.

Woodard received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from WNMU while playing baseball for the Mustangs. He was part of the first baseball team to win a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship and was twice named First Team All-Conference as a shortstop. While working on his Master of Arts in School Administration, also from WNMU, he was an assistant coach for the program. Woodard helped lead the team to national recognition, a No. 3 ranking, and was one game shy of going to the NAIA World Series.

Woodard took a short five-year hiatus from WNMU to teach and coach at Tularosa and Deming High Schools in New Mexico. He then came back to Silver City in 1992 to take over as the head coach for the baseball program, but his tenure was cut short as the program was dropped after the 1993 season. Woodard stayed on as an Assistant Athletic Director to WNMU coaching legend Dick Drangmeister, who eventually retired and turned the department over to Woodard.

During his 15 years as Director of Athletics, Woodard was involved in numerous athletic facility improvements, including building the softball field and renovations to the basketball facility. He also was instrumental in overseeing the building of Altamirano Football Stadium and the Fox Complex, which houses locker rooms, a weight room, and a fitness center. Woodard also supervised the addition of three tennis courts, which allows the women’s and men’s tennis teams to host home contests. Scott Park Golf Course also received a practice facility that included a new driving range, chipping and putting area, coach’s facility, and restrooms to the course.

Although Woodard’s philosophy of athletic success does not rely solely on wins and losses, he has seen many successes on the field, court, and course since he took over. NCAA Division II National Championship appearances by the softball, women’s and men’s golf, and the men’s tennis teams highlighted his most successful seasons in the Department of Athletics. Volleyball was also to regional postseason play a number of times since joining NCAA Division II in 1996.

A national search for Woodard’s replacement will begin immediately.