DeAndra'e Woods rejoined CUI in January 2021 as the sprints/hurdles/relays coach after serving as the head coach at Chapman University for three-and-a-half years.
Woods started competing in track & field with MLK Blasters Track Club in San Diego, Calif. After attending high school
in San Diego, Woods was a sprinter at NCAA Division I Cal State Fullerton from 2008-12 and was a team captain
from 2010-12. During this time, Woods also became involved with Cal State Fullerton's Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee as well as the Gender, Equity and Title IX Committee. Graduating in 2013 Woods obtained his Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.
After exhausting his eligibility, Woods began interning, and later volunteering with the strength & conditioning
coaches at Cal State Fullerton. From 2012-15, he worked with the Titans' perennially nationally-ranked baseball team
and assisted with any other program under the direction of head strength & conditioning coach Isaac Salazar on a
speed, agility and conditioning programing. During his time with the program, 26 student-athletes became MLB draft
picks. Notable players during those three years are Michael Lorenzen, Chad Wallach, J.D. Davis, Matt Chapman,
Thomas Eshleman, Justin Garza and many more. The Titan Baseball team won two Big West Conference
Championships, had three post season appearances and one College World Series appearance during Woods’ time
contributing to the program.
In 2015, Woods was hired at Concordia University Irvine as a graduate assistant. At CUI, he worked primarily with
sprinters and relays while also assisting with hurdlers and jumpers. He coached the Eagles' 4x100m relay team to a
PacWest (Conference) championship in 2016. Where he had athletes break records in the 60-meter dash (indoor),
4x400m relay (indoor), 4x100m relay (outdoor), and the 4x400m relay (outdoor). While at CUI, Woods helped make
podium finishes a norm, leading 6 out of 8 of the men and women 4x100 and 4x400 relays to top 3 finishes. After his
graduate assistantship ended at CUI, he earned his Master’s in Coaching & Athletic Administration. Shortly after
graduation, Woods became the head coach for Chapman University’s track & field/cross country (NCAA Div. III)
program where he stayed for the past three and a half years.
While the head coach of the Panthers, he transformed the track & field/cross country programs with limited staffing
and facilities. Starting off in August of 2017 only having a combine (M&W TF/CC) roster of about 30 student-athletes
on the roster and in January 2021 exiting with a combined roster of 85 student-athletes. Yearly each recruiting class
average GPA exceeded 3.70. With the goal of holistic success all four programs improved academically, athletically
and beyond. In the academic year of 2019 both track & field teams had their highest championship point totals in the
SCIAC. Both cross country teams also matched or exceeded their best finishes at the SCIAC Championships during
Woods' tenure. The men's 4x400m relay became the first Chapman relay team to end with a podium (second place)
finish as well a podium (third place) finish for the women’s javelin throw. Under his lead, Chapman University also
had their first female runner qualify for the 2018-19 Division III Cross Country National Championships. His teams
also consistently succeeded academically maintaining a team GPA above 3.0 with hundreds of student-athletes
achieving individual academic recognition.
In addition to his vast coaching experience, Woods has several certifications. He is certified from the US Track &
Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as a Sprint/Hurdles/Relay specialist and as a jumps
specialist. He is also certified as a USA Track & Field Level 1 Coach, USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach
with knowledge in Olympic lifts, and USTFCCCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach.
In addition to his work in college athletics, Woods has worked as the Director of Sports Performance at the Office
Sports Academy (Powered by Velocity Sports Performance) and taught sports medicine at El Rancho High School
(Pico Rivera, CA).
Coach Woods takes pride in having student-athletes win in more that just athletics but in life and holistically. During
his time as a coach, he’s seen athletes turn professional in their respective sport, get into or complete post
undergraduate degree studies, get married, become parents and more.
THE WOODS FILE
Alma Mater
California State University, Fullerton (2013)
Bachelor's Degree Kinesiology
Concordia University Irvine (2017)
Masters in Coaching & Athletic Administration
Athletic Career
(2009-2012)
California State University, Fullerton
Coaching Career
2021-Present
Concordia University Irvine
Assistant Coach-Sprints/Hurdles/Relays
2017-2021
Chapman University
Head Track & Field/Cross Country Coach
2015-2017
Concordia University Irvine
Graduate Assistant Coach-Sprints/Relays
2014-2016
The Office Sports Academy (Velocity Sports Performance)
Director of Sports Performance
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1 NCAA National Qualifiers
6 USTFCCCA West Region Members
6 All (SCIAC) Conference Members
6 All-Conference Performances
20+ Track & Field/Cross Country School Records Set
ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
14 USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams
93 USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes
14 Academic All-Conference Teams
113 All-Academic Conference Individuals
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY IRVINE COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1 Conference Champion (4x100 Women 2016)
25 All-Conference Performances (Top 3 finishes Individual & Relays)
5 Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field School Records Set
ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
40 All-Academic Conference Individuals
2 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Winners
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING...
Keegan Bloomfield, Head Coach, Concordia University Irvine
“The CUI track & field/cross country program is blessed to have DeAndra'e coming home after 3.5 years. Coach Woods will bring a lot to the track & field program. For starters an energy and focus to the team that will elevate us all. His love for life, the Lord, and to see his student-athletes succeed is contagious. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to a group of student-athletes who are primed to take the next steps under his leadership."
Kevin Reid, Head Coach, University of La Verne
"You have a good one in DeAndra’e. While I am disappointed to see DeAndra'e leave our conference, I am excited to see him chasing his dreams and moving forward. What you have is a quality coach that will recruit and coach at a high level. More importantly, you have a quality MAN that will guide, mentor and coach athletes to be the best they can be - on and off the track."
Todd Lane, Assistant Coach, Louisiana State University
"He's very caring and committed to athlete development on the track, but also as people and students in the world and classroom. Those skills are always invaluable as a person who works with student athletes."
Meredith Basil, Associate Athletics Director, California State University, Fullerton
"Coach Woods is an intelligent, passionate, authentic and motivated leader. He brings fresh perspectives and a wealth of experience. CUI is fortunate to have him as a member of the Track & Field/Cross Country program and the campus community."
Terry Boesel, Director of Athletics, Chapman University
“We would like to thank Coach Woods for his fierce commitment to the betterment of our student-athletes and our department. His impact was shown in both cross country and track & field with incredible improvements both athletically, academically and beyond. We wish him luck as he moves forward in his career.”
Monique Henderson, Head Coach, Golden West Community College
“DeAndra'e is someone who has always been a student of the sport of track and field. I have known him for over 20 years and as a three-time Olympian, I have often picked his brain on training concepts. I am beyond excited to see the dedication, energy, and changes he brings to Chapman."
Maija Girardi, Student-Athlete, Chapman University
"Coach Woods is one of the most dedicated coaches I have ever competed for. We will miss his coaching and guidance through track and life and I wish him well in his next chapter."
Nick Buto, Student-Athlete, Chapman University
"I really appreciate everything Coach Woods has done for me as an athlete, student, and person, as well as for this team, school, and community. I am so grateful for the experiences and memories Coach Woods has helped me make and for the family that he has built. I am so proud and excited to see the places he goes and the things he does.”
Aki Shigeyama, Student-Athlete, Chapman University
“Coach Woods is a very passionate man. He is determined for his team to succeed when the odds are against them. It’s no coincidence we rewrote Chapman’s history countless number of times after he took over.”
