Ray Woodard new head football coach at Navarro College

[Smoaky]

CORSICANA -- Navarro College introduced Ray Woodard on Monday as the new head football coach for the Bulldogs, replacing Chuck Lawrence who resigned after nine seasons.

 

Woodard has been the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Last year’s Navarro defense was a +17 in turnover ratio, gave up three rushing touchdowns and an average of 113.5 rushing yards in its first 8 games, and produced 266 return yards from 24 turnovers.

 

“I am very excited to have this opportunity, “ Woodard said. “I look forward to remaining with the Navarro College family.”

 

Woodard was born in Corrigan, Texas, and was a two-time NJCAA All-American at Kilgore College. During his freshman season, the Rangers finished No. 2 in the nation. He played two years at The University of Texas in Austin on Fred Akers’ teams that went 20-4 in two seasons and led the NCAA in defense his senior year. He played on the 1982 Sun Bowl team that lost to North Carolina and on the 1983 Cotton Bowl team that lost to Georgia.

 

Woodard, one of 17 Longhorns taken in the 1984 draft, was an eighth-round selection of the San Diego Chargers, and played professionally five seasons with San Diego, Kansas City and finally, with Denver, where he played on the 1986 Broncos’ Super Bowl team.

 

He has been an assistant coach in the NJCAA Region XIV totaling 10 years -- eight at Kilgore, including the 1990 season when the Rangers won the Texas Junior College Football Conference championship. After a stint at Southwest Louisiana, Woodard coached professionally for Texas Terror, Arena Football, and spent four seasons as a defensive coordinator in NFL Europe with the Frankfurt Galaxy (1996-97) and the Scottish Claymores (2001-03).

 

He spent five seasons as a Texas High School Coach -- most recently, as head coach and athletic director at Class A Burton High School in 2004.

 

Woodard earned his Bachelors’ Degree from Sam Houston State in 1988, and his Masters from UT-Tyler in 1991.

 

Woodard and his wife, Penne, have been married 24 years. Penne is a nurse for the Baylor Health Care System in Waxahachie. They have one daughter, Jessica.

 

“Navarro College is pleased with the appointment of Mr. Ray Woodard as head football coach,” said Dr. Richard M. Sanchez, President of Navarro College. “I am certain Coach Woodard will perform exceptionally well as head coach of the Navarro College football program.”

 

Navarro had more than 30 applications for the job, according to Navarro College Athletic Director Roark Montgomery. Woodard was selected over two other finalists, New Mexico Military Institute head coach Jeff Lynn and North Dakota State College of Sciences head coach Michael Beagle.

[InterestedOserver]

What happened to Chuck? I was on staff with Ray at Kilgore 93-95, he is a good coach and I know he can recruit. I thought he might have been a candidate at Kilgore.