On Thursday, Riley Woods was introduced as the brand new boys soccer coach at Somerset Christian College.
Woods grew up idolizing his father, Rodney Woods, who was a legendary, Corridor of Fame highschool basketball coach and D1 basketball standout on the College of Tennessee. Riley's father amassed 826 profession basketball wins, led his Wayne County groups to 9 twelfth Area titles and was named to the Kentucky Excessive College Basketball Corridor of Fame and the Dawahares/Kentucky Excessive College Athletic Affiliation Corridor of Fame.
Whereas the Woods household title has turn into synonymous with highschool basketball throughout the state, Riley Woods has fueled his personal course of with a profitable younger profession as a highschool soccer coach.
The youthful Woods, a 2018 graduate of Wayne County Excessive College, returned to teach his alma mater's soccer program for the previous three seasons. He led the Cardinals to one in every of their most profitable seasons in program historical past, with a report 15 wins and the varsity's first-ever boys soccer title.
“We received district and that was the primary time we received district in Wayne County and 15 wins was essentially the most wins in a single season,” Woods stated. “It was the very best attacking season we've ever had with 77 targets in a season.
Woods' soccer Cardinals received the district crown in 2023 and narrowly missed out on a penalty kick loss in 2022.
Somerset Christian College Athletic Director Al Gover was thrilled to rent a younger standout soccer coach.
“We're very fortunate to get him,” Gover stated. “We had our sights on him early, then it simply didn't work out and the timing wasn't proper. It took some time to finish the method, however once I spoke to him once more the opposite day, he was very .
His love of soccer and dwelling in a family with legendary father Riley Woods grew to become a pure a part of teaching highschool soccer.
Woods admitted that he discovered loads about teaching from his father, however – extra importantly – he discovered many life classes from his father by sports activities.
“I believe a variety of issues [my dad] what he learns interprets not solely in different sports activities, but in addition in life,” Woods stated. “One factor he all the time taught me is that once I first began coaching, he stated you get what you tolerate. In my case on the sector, it comes from tolerating it, whether or not in observe or wherever. So a variety of the issues he instilled in me as a participant got here by as a coach.”
After teaching in opposition to Rodney Woods for a few years and watching his son Riley Woods develop up, Gover knew what he was getting in his latest athletic coach rent.
“Riley comes from a fantastic household of athletes and coaches,” Gover stated. “His dad, Rodney, was one of many biggest coaches within the historical past of Kentucky highschool athletics. Riley's habits is very similar to his father's; the place he thinks the sport and is aware of the sport.'
After leaving the profitable Wayne County soccer program, Woods was arguably thought-about a “scorching commodity” as a highschool soccer coach. Nonetheless, Woods selected to teach at Somerset Christian as a result of long-term success of their soccer program over time and the varsity's dedication to minor sports activities.
“[Somerset Christian] he was recognized for soccer for my part,” Woods stated. “I believe they're recognized for soccer and volleyball as an outsider. A faculty that's going to concentrate on that minor sport is one thing I'm not used to and I'm actually trying ahead to being part of it.” it.”
Ben Stein began the Somerset Christian Soccer program greater than 20 years in the past and has led the Cougars to 10 Kentucky Christian Athletic Affiliation state titles previously 11 years within the league and a NACA nationwide title in 2015. Woods replaces Joe Estes, who coached the Cougars for one season.
