Iowa City Longtime special teams guru LeVar Woods announced on Thursday that he is leaving the University of Iowa to take a new position at Michigan State University, causing a seismic shift in the Hawkeye football program. Woods, who has been a mainstay on the Iowa sidelines for almost twenty years, will become the Spartans’ assistant head coach and special teams coordinator.
Kirk Ferentz, the head coach of Iowa, made the announcement on Thursday afternoon during a crowded press conference. For everyone present at the Hansen Football Performance Center, it was a bittersweet moment that highlighted both Woods’ significant influence on Hawkeye football and the realities of life in the constantly changing world of college coaching. In order to give the program some continuity as it gets ready to play Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve, Ferentz made it clear that Woods will stay with Iowa through its next bowl game. Before he leaves for East Lansing, fans will see Woods once more on the sidelines in the renowned black and gold.
In an emotional statement, Woods said, “There are definitely places that shape you and there are places that make you.” “Iowa was both for me.” Everyone in the room could relate to those words because they were spoken with genuine heart. They embodied, for many, the qualities of a coach whose bond with the Hawkeyes transcends plays and numbers.
Woods is an integral part of Iowa football, not just a coach. He was born in Inwood, Iowa, and excelled at West Lyon High School. From 1998 to 2000, he played linebacker for Iowa, where he developed a reputation as a fierce competitor and team leader. In 2008, following a seven-year NFL career, he returned to Iowa as an administrative assistant and started a 17-year coaching career.
Woods served in a variety of capacities within the program during that time. In addition to coaching tight ends and linebackers, he has been in charge of the Hawkeyes’ special teams since 2017. Under his direction, the team has grown to be a source of pride. Thanks in large part to Woods’ careful planning and talent-development skills, Iowa’s special teams routinely ranked among the best in the Big Ten. Under his direction, punters, kickers, and return specialists frequently found themselves close to the top of conference and national rankings.
There is no denying the success. Every year, the Hawkeyes’ special teams produced top players who helped Iowa win difficult games, made big plays, and gained momentum. Many in the program attribute Woods’ enthusiasm, self-control, and attention to detail to the program’s sustained excellence. For Iowa special teams, Woods’ departure signifies the end of an era. However, he sees the move as an opportunity to take on a more expansive leadership role. He will hold the dual roles of assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at Michigan State, which will showcase his abilities and reflect the respect he has gained in the sport.
As part of a broader initiative to create a competitive program in the Big Ten, Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald is adding Woods to his staff. Given Woods’ standing as one of the best special teams minds in college football, the addition has already excited Spartan supporters. Woods made sure to address his family, another aspect of the narrative that was significant to Hawkeye supporters, even as he moved on. Mason Woods, his son, is a freshman tight end for Iowa this year and will stay with the Hawkeyes. The Woods family’s connection to the program is somewhat reassured by this continuity, which also highlights the strong roots they have established in Iowa City.
Ferentz also thanked Woods and wished him well. The seasoned head coach thanked him without missing a beat for his leadership, years of service, and steadfast dedication to Hawkeye football. That kind of loyalty is becoming less common in the world of collegiate athletics, where coaching staffs can feel ephemeral and transactional. On social media and message boards, fans reacted swiftly, with some bemoaning the loss and others congratulating Woods on his professional development. Some brought up his name in discussions about head coaching in the future, while others just thought about how, under his direction, special teams—once disregarded by many programs—became an integral part of the Hawkeyes’ identity.
The question now is: Who will fill the void left by one of Iowa’s most important assistants as the Hawkeyes get ready for their bowl game and anticipate offseason changes? Whatever the response, Woods’ legacy is assured in the players he coached and the culture he contributed to. For the time being, however, the emphasis is on sending Woods off appropriately, with appreciation, deference, and a feeling that he has earned every chance that presents itself. Because LeVar Woods shaped a generation of players and made a lasting impact on Iowa football, as many Hawkeyes would attest. He did more than just coach special teams.
