WOODLAND – Woodland Athletic Director Paul Huddleston didn’t have to look too hard to find the Beavers’ next football coach.
“Honestly, it’s more like he chose us than we chose him,’’ said Huddleston, referring to Mike Woodward, a 1988 graduate of Battle Ground High School. “Mike is originally from southwest Washington and he and his family are trying to get back to Washington from San Diego … and feels like we are the perfect fit for him at this stage in his coaching career.’’
If Woodward feels Woodland’s the perfect fit for him and his family, Huddleston agreed.
“We feel like he's the perfect fit for us as well,’’ Huddleston said. “We are extremely fortunate to have a coach of his caliber searching for a one high school town where he can grow roots and become a part of the community.’’
Woodward will come to Woodland from San Diego’s Westview High School, where he has coached since 2007. He will replace Mark Greenleaf who resigned after the 2015 season.
“Mike's enthusiasm is contagious, and his passion for developing the ‘whole’ athlete has been evident throughout his coaching career,’’ Huddleston added. “His men of character program is something we believe will not only positively impact our football program, but also our school and community. His programs have competed and improved everywhere he has been, and I have no doubt that Mike will guide our already strong football tradition at WHS to even greater heights.’’
Woodward was born in Long Beach, CA, but grew up in Battle Ground where he was a three-sport varsity athlete in football (two-time all-league and team captain), basketball (team captain) and baseball (all-league). He led his senior class with eight varsity letters and was voted Battle Ground's senior Athlete of the year in 1988.
After graduation and battling with the decision to play college football or baseball, Woodward elected to play football at Portland State where he saw time as a wide receiver and became the only true freshmen to play in every game for a team ranked in the top three in the nation for Division 2.
Woodward then transferred to Eastern Oregon University (EOU) in La Grande, OR, where he finished his last three years of college as a three-time all-league receiver and broke the EOU record for most consecutive games with a reception (27). He received his degree in Physical Education and Health with a minor in Secondary Education and Coaching.
Woodward then headed back home to Vancouver to accept his first coaching job in 1995 at Camas High School as a varsity receiver and defensive back coach. Following his former Battle Ground coach Eric Bernstein, he then went to Mountain View High School and served as the wide receivers and defensive backs coach and offensive coordinator for three years. After the retirement of Bernstein, Woodward then took on his first head coaching role at Mountain View in 1999. At that time, he was the youngest Class 4A head coach in the state of Washington at age 29.
During the next five years as the head coach at Mountain View, the program made the playoffs four out of five years while compiling a record of 41-16. Woodward was voted the Greater St. Helens League Coach of the Year during the 2002 season.
Woodward then coached at Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver for three seasons before heading to San Diego. In his first year as the Westview head coach in 2007, the Wolverines made the playoffs after coming off a 1-9 season prior to his arrival. In 2008, the Wolverines ended the year with the best record in school history at 9-3.
Woodward and wife Pamela have two children, son Mickey and daughter Alyssa.