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Lamar Football Coach Ray Woodard press conference

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AggiesAreWe

AggiesAreWe

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Here is the press release from the press conference plus some quotes I got from Coach Woodard:

Ray Woodard, a 20-year coaching veteran with 12 years of college experience, was named the eighth football coach at Lamar University by President James Simmons and Athletic Director Billy Tubbs on Monday.

" Ray Woodard was the best fit for what we needed at Lamar University, " Tubbs said. " He is a great coach, he will recruit quality student-athletes and abide by the rules and regulations of Lamar University. He has played and coached at the highest levels of football."

" It is very exciting to be named the head football coach at Lamar University," Woodard said. " This is a great opportunity and the future is bright for Lamar football."

Woodard, 46, has spent the past three seasons at Navarro College- the first two as the defensive coordinator and the last as head coach. His 2007 squad went 9-3 and advanced to the conference playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

Navarro defeated defending national champion Blinn JC on consecutive weeks before rolling past Kilgore- the SWJCFC regular season champion- on the road 54-28 to earn the school's first bowl bid  since the 1990's.

Navarro claimed a 24-21 win over Georgia Military in the Pilgrim's Pride Bowl to finish the year ranked fourth in the NJCAA national poll. For his efforts, Woodard was named the SWJCFC's Coach of the Year.

Navarro ranked third nationally in total offense (444.6 ypg.), fourth in rushing offense (250.5 ypg.) and 16th in passing offense (194.2 ypg.), while scoring a school record 428 points (35.7 ppg.) in 2007.

From 2003-05, Woodard served as the head football and track coach at Burton, Texas High School. The Panthers went 4-6 each season and won the district title in track in 2004. He spent two years as the defensive coordinator at Livingston, Texas High School from 1998-2001 and one season at Trinity HS in 1997-98.

He spent three years as the defensive coordinator for the Scottish Claymores from 2000-03- his second stint with an NFL Europe franchise. The Claymores went 14-15 during his time there.

Woodard's other professional coaching experience came as general manager/head coach for the Houston Outlaw's (1999-2000) of the Regional Football League and defensive coordinator of the Franfurt Galaxy ( 1996-97) of NFL Europe and the Texas Terror ( 1996) of the Arena Football League.

His first experience at the NCAA level came in 1998 when he was the defensive line coach at Louisiana-Lafayette.

From 1988-95 Woodard was the defensive coordinator at Kilgore College and recruited more than 200 Texas high school student-athletes. The Rangers appeared in back-to-back Snrine Bowls in 1989 and 1990. Kilgore went 36-46 with four winning seasons during his time, including a 9-2 record in 1990.

Woodard also had a very successful playing career, from his days at Corrigan-Camden HS to Kilgore College and the University of Texas to five years in the NFL.

After earning 13 letters in four sports at Corrigan-Camden from 1975-79, Woodard was a two-time All-American selection as a defensive tackle at Kilgore College.

He then finished his college career at Texas under coach Fred Akers. UT lead the nation in total defense his senior year ( 1983 ).

Woodard was selected then in the eighth  round of the 1984 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He spent the next five seasons with the Chargers, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. He was a member of the Broncos' 1986 AFC Champion and Super Bowl team.

Here are some notes from the press conference:

Coach Woodard will start up an extensive walkon program starting THIS fall. He will be counting on many walkons to play for him as he gets this program started. Lamar is only allowed to sign 30 players starting in the fall 2009.

His timetable for hiring a staff was not finalized but he did say it will be a short time.

He was asked as to what coaches were his inspiration and he replied that former NFL coaches Dan Reeves and Ernie Staudner along with his cousin and former Silsbee AD/head coach Charlie Woodard as the men who he looked up to.

Woodard also consulted with Dan Reeves and Les Koening about starting up football programs as each of these men are doing this also, Reeves with Georgia St. and Koening with South Alabama.

Woodard stated that he will run mutiple offenses and defenses, likes the idea of always keeping the opponent off balance.

As for what he will be doing this first year with no football, Woodard stated that he will be making his rounds in the area and community, attending many high school football games, functions, and booster clubs. He wants to get the word out about Lamar Football.

He considers this home as he has lots of family and friends in this area. His cousins Charlie and current assistant football coach Bobby Woodard in Silsbee were instrumental in him coming here along with WOS Coach Dan Hooks and PAM Coach Ronnie Thompson.

Congrats to Ray Woodard, new Head Football Coach at Lamar University. Welcome home, Ray.

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HouTexan

HouTexan

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Something else really stood out from the press conference that I'm not sure was discussed was his ability not only to recruit in SE Texas, but Dallas, Central Texas, and Houston. We've been talking in terms of SE Texas, but  he has ties to Dallas, Houston, and Austin.

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