Long-time Hawkeye Woods is leaving nest

By DANA BECKER

dbecker@messengernews.net

IOWA CITY — Long-time Iowa Hawkeye LeVar Woods is headed to Michigan State to become the new assistant head coach and special teams coordinator.

Woods, a former Iowa linebacker who played seven seasons in the NFL, was hired by new Spartan head coach Pat Fitzgerald on Thursday. He had served under Kirk Ferentz since 2008 in some capacity with the Iowa football program.

“First and foremost, there are definitely places that shape you, and there are places that make you,” Woods said. “For me, Iowa is both. I grew up here. I learned what it takes to work, to be accountable, to show up when it’s hard, to put the team ahead of myself and I had the privilege of wearing the black and gold, living out a dream that so many kids in this state carry with them from the first time they toss a ball in the backyard.

“The University of Iowa gave me more than football. It gave me my life. I met my wife here in Iowa City…in fact, met her at the Old Capital Mall on campus.”

Woods played for both Hayden Fry and Ferentz, becoming a two-year starter at outside linebacker. His blocked field goal return vs. Northern Illinois in 1999 helped secure the first win for Ferentz as head coach.

As a senior, Woods was named all-Big Ten Conference honorable mention and presented with the Hayden Fry Extra Heartbeat Award.

Undrafted, Woods found his role in the NFL on special teams, making 168 career tackles with 2.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He was named a finalist for both the Byron “Whizzer” White and Walter Payton Man of the Year awards.

“(Woods) has done a great job, coached a lot of great players in his role at all positions but particularly the special teams,” Ferentz said. “You guys know better than I how well we’ve done statistically on special teams. I think you also understand just how important that’s been for 27 years in our thinking as a program, just the value of special teams.

“I’m really appreciative of the way he’s taken that role, what he did with it in growing it, and just did an absolutely fantastic job.”

Woods worked his way up the coaching ladder under Ferentz, starting as an administrative assistant before becoming the outside linebackers and special teams coach. He also held the title of tight ends coach before becoming the special teams coordinator in 2018.

“I’ll always be grateful for that trust that Coach (Ferentz) showed in me for the chance to grow here under (his) leadership and the various roles that he gave me,” Woods said. “I’ve thought long and hard about this, prayed upon it, conversations with family, made a decision to accept a new professional opportunity at Michigan State.

“This is not easy at all, if you can’t tell. You don’t walk away lightly from a program like this, a place like this, a locker room like this, players like this, coaches, a state that feels like family. It’s not easy to do.”

In high school, Woods was a multi-sport standout for West Lyon, earning the 2A player of the year award as a senior.

Ferentz added that Woods will continue to work with the Hawkeyes through their upcoming bowl game vs. Vanderbilt on Dec. 31.