Mike Woodward stepped down as the head coach of the Woodland High School football team Friday. He said he gave the program everything he had left for the last seven months. The Beavers finished the season with an 8-2 record, 7-1 in league.
Although he doesn’t call it a retirement, Mike Woodward decided to step down as the head coach of the Woodland High School football team Friday.
“I’d started having those feelings of being worn down with three decades of the same routine last winter,” Woodward wrote in an email. “On May 1, I took the day off and prayed and meditated on my future all day long and made my final decision. I only told my wife, son and daughter, closest friend, and one assistant coach. After that, I gave the program absolutely everything I had for the next seven months. Fortunately for us, it ended up being one of the best seasons I’ve ever been a part of. After a long season-ending reflection my decision did not change.”
Woodland finished the season with an 8-2 record, 7-1 in league. The Beavers gave Tumwater all it could handle in the district crossover game but came up short.
After coaching at Woodland for three seasons, Woodward feels the football program is in good shape. He also coached at Mountain View for five seasons, Hudson’s Bay for three seasons and at Westview High School in Poway, California, for nine seasons.
The 48-year-old feels like it’s time to step away from football and spend time with his family.
“Twenty years is a long time to run a program. Plus, four years as an assistant and another 10 as a player. That’s 34 years straight of never having a season off,” Woodward wrote. “I never could find a way to turn the football button off during the offseason either. That was a major driving force...the offseason of not being able to engage with family and other things in my life without thinking about my players or program in the back of my mind.”
Woodland went 18-11 during Woodward’s three seasons as head coach. He thanks the players, fellow coaches, parents and the staff at the high school for making Woodland feel like home.
“I absolutely love it here. This place from top to bottom has been very good to me and I truly enjoy teaching and living here. It reminds me of growing up in Battle Ground and I have very fond memories of that time,” Woodward said. “I have no idea what the future holds for me but I’m excited to try new things. Most importantly, I need that quality time with my children and granddaughter petting goats and feeding chickens without my iPad in the other hand watching Hockinson film.”
